2021 Racing Louisville FC season

The 2021 Racing Louisville FC season was the club's first season of play. Racing Louisville competed in the National Women's Soccer League, the top flight of professional women's soccer in the United States.

Racing Louisville
2021 season
OwnerJohn Neace
ManagerChristy Holly (until Aug. 31)
Mario Sanchez (interim)
StadiumLynn Family Stadium
NWSL9th
NWSL PlayoffsDNQ
Challenge Cup5th (East Div.)
2021 International Women's CupChampions
Top goalscorerLeague: Cece Kizer, Ebony Salmon (6)
All: Cece Kizer (8)
Highest home attendance8,488 (vs. ORL, October 16)
Lowest home attendance5,843 (vs. KC, August 8)
Average home league attendance6,565
Biggest winCHI 0 - 3 LOU (June 26)
Biggest defeatNCC 5 - 0 LOU (May 28)
2022 →

Background edit

Racing Louisville FC was announced on October 22, 2019, as an NWSL expansion team set to begin play in the 2021 season.[1] Former Sky Blue FC head coach Christy Holly was named as Racing Louisville FC's first head coach on August 12, 2020.[2] The club proceeded to build their roster through a combination of free agent signings, a trade with Chicago Red Stars for Savannah McCaskill and Yūki Nagasato in exchange draft protection,[3] the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft, and the 2021 NWSL Draft. Since the opening of the season, Racing also added English internationals Gemma Bonner and Ebony Salmon, former North Carolina Courage defender Sinclaire Miramontez, and Dutch international Nadia Nadim.

Holly was fired for cause on August 31, 2021, and the club named Mario Sanchez, head of the club's youth academy and former collegiate coach, as the interim head coach.[4]

Current squad edit

As of June 9, 2021[5]

No. Position Player Nation
1 GK   USA Michelle Betos
2 MF   USA Lauren Milliet
3 DF   USA Erin Simon
4 DF   ENG Gemma Bonner
5 FW   USA Cece Kizer
7 FW   USA Savannah McCaskill
8 MF   SWE Freja Olofsson
9 FW   ENG Ebony Salmon
10 FW   DEN Nadia Nadim
11 DF   USA Emily Fox
12 DF   USA Sinclaire Miramontez
13 FW   USA Emina Ekic
14 DF   USA Nealy Martin
15 DF   USA Brooke Hendrix
16 DF   USA Julia Ashley
17 FW   JPN Yūki Nagasato
18 DF   USA Kaleigh Riehl
19 MF   USA Taylor Otto
20 FW   JAM Cheyna Matthews
21 GK   USA Shelby Money
22 FW   USA Katie McClure
23 GK   USA Katie Lund
24 MF   USA Noelle Higginson
26 DF   USA Addisyn Merrick
27 FW   DOM Vanessa Kara
33 FW   USA Jorian Baucom

Competitions edit

Preseason friendlies edit

February 27, 2021 Racing Louisville 4–0 Louisville Cardinals Louisville, Kentucky
Milliet   5'
Kizer   22',   24',   49'
[1] Stadium: Thurman Hutchins Park
Attendance: 0
March 7, 2021 Vanderbilt Commodores 1–2 Racing Louisville Nashville, Tennessee
Kelley   68' [2] Milliet   43'
Kizer   49' (pen.)
Stadium: Vanderbilt Soccer/Lacrosse Complex
Attendance: 0
March 13, 2021 Racing Louisville 4–0 West Virginia Mountaineers Louisville, Kentucky
Ekic   17'
McClure   41',   59'
Baucom   83'
[3] Stadium: Thurman Hutchins Park
Attendance: 0
March 24, 2021 Florida State Seminoles v Racing Louisville Tallahassee, Florida
Stadium: Seminole Soccer Complex
Attendance: 0
Note: Result not reported
March 28, 2021 Florida State Seminoles v Racing Louisville Tallahassee, Florida
Stadium: Seminole Soccer Complex
Note: Result not reported

NWSL Challenge Cup edit

Standings — East Division edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 NJ/NY Gotham FC 4 2 2 0 5 3 +2 8 Qualification for the Championship
2 North Carolina Courage 4 2 1 1 9 8 +1 7
3 Orlando Pride 4 1 2 1 3 3 0 5
4 Washington Spirit 4 1 1 2 3 4 −1 4
5 Racing Louisville FC 4 0 2 2 4 6 −2 2
Source: NWSL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Match results edit

Racing Louisville's group stage matches in the East Division of the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup were the first competitive matches in club history. The opening match, a 2–2 draw against Orlando Pride, was the club's first at their home ground, Lynn Family Stadium. With two draws and two losses in four group matches, Racing finished at the bottom of East Division in their first Challenge Cup.[6]

April 10, 2021 1 Racing Louisville 2–2 Orlando Pride Louisville, Kentucky
7:00 PM ET Kizer   12'
Fox   66'
Baucom   83'
Hendrix   90+3'
Report Kornieck   35',   44'
Kim   88'
Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium
Attendance: 5,300
Referee: Katja Koroleva
Assistant referees: Brooke Mayo, Maggie Short
Fourth official: Nabil Bensalah
April 15, 2021 2 Washington Spirit 1–0 Racing Louisville Washington, D.C.
7:00 PM ET Roddar   59'
Huster   79'
Sanchez   90+3'
Report Olofsson   52' Stadium: Audi Field
Attendance: 0
Referee: Danielle Chesky
Assistant referees: Ben Pilgrim, Nicholas Seymour
Fourth official: Nabil Bensalah
April 26, 2021 3 Racing Louisville 2–3 North Carolina Courage Louisville, Kentucky
6:00 PM ET Kizer   24'
Baucom   75'
Report Pickett   12'
Hamilton   33'
Kurtz   49'
Debinha   57'
Ashley   84' (o.g.)
Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium
Attendance: 3,742
Referee: Tori Penso
Assistant referees: Rebecca Luther, Maggie Short
Fourth official: Chris Schurfranz
May 2, 2021 4 NJ/NY Gotham FC 0–0 Racing Louisville Montclair, New Jersey
12:30 PM ET Cudjoe   28' Report Stadium: MSU Soccer Park
Referee: Karen Abt
Assistant referees: Tiffini Turpin, Zeno Cho
Fourth official: Christian Centeno

NWSL Regular Season edit

Standings edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Portland Thorns FC 24 13 5 6 33 17 +16 44 NWSL Shield
2 OL Reign 24 13 3 8 37 24 +13 42 Playoffs – Semi-finals
3 Washington Spirit (C) 24 11 6 7 29 26 +3 39 Playoffs – First round
4 Chicago Red Stars 24 11 5 8 28 28 0 38
5 NJ/NY Gotham FC 24 8 11 5 29 21 +8 35
6 North Carolina Courage 24 9 6 9 28 23 +5 33
7 Houston Dash 24 9 5 10 31 31 0 32
8 Orlando Pride 24 7 7 10 27 32 −5 28
9 Racing Louisville FC 24 5 7 12 21 40 −19 22
10 Kansas City 24 3 7 14 15 36 −21 16
Source: NWSL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(C) Champions

Results summary edit

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
24 5 7 12 21 40  −19 22 4 4 4 12 15  −3 1 3 8 9 25  −16

Last updated: October 31, 2021.
Source: Match reports

Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324
GroundHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAAHA
ResultDWLLWLWLDLLWDDLLDLLLLWDD
Updated to match(es) played on October 31, 2021. Source: Match reports
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Match results edit

15 May 1 Racing Louisville 0–0 Kansas City Louisville, Kentucky
5:00 PM ET McCaskill   53' Report Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium
Attendance: 6,622
Referee: Adorae Monroy
Assistant referees: Deleana Quan, Chris Schurfranz
Fourth official: Nabil Bensalah
21 May 2 Racing Louisville 2–0 Washington Spirit Louisville, Kentucky
7:30 PM ET Ekic   76'
Kizer   81'
Baucom   90+1'
Martin   90+2'
Report Rodman   46'
Bailey   70'
Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium
Attendance: 6,011
Referee: Katja Koroleva
Assistant referees: Melissa Beck, Maggie Short
Fourth official: Michael Samour
28 May 3 North Carolina Courage 5–0 Racing Louisville Cary, North Carolina
7:00 PM ET Erceg   7'
Mathias   56'
L Williams   63'
Debinha   68'
Mace   75',   90'
Report Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: Unreported
Referee: Matthew Franz
Assistant referees: Jeremy Smith, Caleb Fearing
Fourth official: Shawn Tehini
5 June 4 Portland Thorns FC 3–0 Racing Louisville Portland, Oregon
10:30 PM ET/7:30 PM PT Salem   8'
Rodriguez   48'
Horan   72',   77'
Report Martin   49'
McClure   85'
Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: Not reported
Referee: Samantha Martinez
Assistant referees: Salma Perez, Corbyn May
Fourth official: Luis Trujillo
20 June 5 Racing Louisville 1–0 Houston Dash Louisville, Kentucky
3:00 PM ET Bonner   10'
Salmon   72'
Report Latsko   7' Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium
Attendance: 5,971
Referee: Laura Rodriguez
Assistant referees: Meghan Mullen, Maggie Short
Fourth official: Chris Schurfranz
23 June 6 Racing Louisville 0–2 North Carolina Courage Louisville, Kentucky
7:30 PM ET Nagasato   65' Report L. Williams   27',   33' Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium
Attendance: 6,334
Referee: Alyssa Nichols
Assistant referees: Kali Smith, Mike Nickerson
Fourth official: Michael Samour
26 June 7 Chicago Red Stars 0–3 Racing Louisville Bridgeview, Illinois
3:25 PM CT/4:25 PM ET (start delayed from 1:00 PM CT by weather) Colaprico   10'   55' Report Nagasato   29',   56'
Salmon   38'
McCaskill   62'
Stadium: SeatGeek Stadium
Attendance: 2,626
Referee: Greg Dopka
Assistant referees: Melissa Beck, Rachel Smith
Fourth official: Katherine McCormick
3 July 8 Racing Louisville 0–2 Portland Thorns FC Louisville, Kentucky
7:30 PM ET McCaskill   29'
Riehl   34'
Holly   77'
Report Rodriguez   30' (pen.)
Charley   52'
Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium
Attendance: 6,822
Referee: Karen Callado
Assistant referees: Brooke Mayo, Chris Schurfranz
Fourth official: Emma Richards
9 July 9 Orlando Pride 1–1 Racing Louisville Orlando, Florida
7:00 PM ET Jónsdóttir   33'
Leroux   90+4'
Report Salmon   21'
McCaskill   36'
Ekic   73'
Matthews   82'
Stadium: Exploria Stadium
Referee: Natalie Simon
25 July 10 Racing Louisville 0–2 Washington Spirit Louisville, Kentucky
7:30 PM ET (start delayed from 3:00 PM ET due to weather conditions) Report Ashley Hatch   5'
Sam Staab   58'
Aubrey Bledsoe   90+1'
Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium
Attendance: 6,422
Referee: Samantha Martinez
Assistant referees: Tiffini Turpin, Mike Nickerson
Fourth official: Jarin Harrell
31 July 11 OL Reign 2–0 Racing Louisville Tacoma, Washington
7:00 PM PT/10:00 PM ET Le Sommer   27',   43'
Huerta   86'
Report Stadium: Cheney Stadium
Attendance: 3,097
Referee: Laura Rodriguez
8 August 12 Racing Louisville 3–1 Kansas City Louisville, Kentucky
3:00 PM ET Nadim   22',   55'
Fox   35'
McCaskill   38'
Salmon   43'
Matthews   86',   90'
Report Pickett   45+1'
Jenkins   45+9'
LaBonta   63'
Silva   82'
Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium
Attendance: 5,843
Referee: Danielle Chesky
15 August 13 NJ/NY Gotham FC 1–1 Racing Louisville Harrison, New Jersey
5:00 PM ET Onumonu   83' Report Nadim   13'
Bonner   67'
Riehl   90+6'
Stadium: Red Bull Arena
Attendance: 2,200
Referee: Brad Jensen
Assistant referees: Tyler Wyrostek, Ian Mangione
Fourth official: Jennifer Dumaine
18 August 14 Racing Louisville 1–1 Chicago Red Stars Louisville, Kentucky
8:20 PM ET Salmon   10',   57'
Riehl   65'
Nagasato   90'
Report Watt   57' Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium
Attendance: 7,310
Referee: Karen Abt
Assistant referees: Kali Smith, Noah Matos
Fourth official: Katherine McCormick
Note: A penalty kick shoot-out following full time was needed to decide a winner for the match's dual status as a semifinal of the inaugural International Women's Cup. Racing Louisville won the shoot-out 5 - 4.
25 August 15 Kansas City 2–1 Racing Louisville Kansas City, Kansas
7:00 PM CT/8:00 PM ET Ball   10'
Simon   17' (o.g.)
Hamilton   40'
LaBonta   45+2'
Weber   50'
Vincent   79'
Report Nadim   27'
Kizer   65'
S Miramontez   88'   90+1'
Stadium: Legends Field
Referee: Michael Radchuk
29 August 16 Houston Dash 1–0 Racing Louisville Houston, Texas
6:30 PM CT/7:30 PM ET Daly   49'
Naughton   73'
Visalli   90+7'
Hanson   90+8'
Report Baucom   68'
Simon   82'
Stadium: BBVA Stadium
Attendance: 5,300
Referee: Katja Koroleva
4 September 17 Racing Louisville 1–1 OL Reign Louisville, Kentucky
7:30 PM ET Nadim   23' Report Balcer   74',   80' Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium
Attendance: 6,337
Referee: Tori Penso
Assistant referees: Alicia Messer, Maggie Short
Fourth official: Jarin Harrell
11 September 18 Orlando Pride 3–1 Racing Louisville Orlando, Florida
7:00 PM ET Leroux   30'
Marta   34'
Morgan   65'
Report Kizer   51' Stadium: Exploria Stadium
Attendance: 3,822
Referee: Elton Garcia
26 September 19 Racing Louisville 0–4 Houston Dash Louisville, Kentucky
3:00 PM ET Matthews   16' Report Visalli   34'
Mewis   43'
Naughton   72'
Prince   83'
Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium
Attendance: 6,113
Referee: Matt Thompson
6 October 20 North Carolina Courage 3–1 Racing Louisville Cary, North Carolina
7:30 PM ET L Williams   14'
Rodriguez   19'
Debinha   30'
Report McCaskill   24' Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Referee: Alyssa Nichols
9 October 21 Washington Spirit 3–0 Racing Louisville Washington, D.C.
7:30 PM ET Hatch   8',   80'
Sullivan   52'
Report McCaskill   38' Stadium: Audi Field
Referee: Laura Rodriguez
16 October 22 Racing Louisville 3–1 Orlando Pride Louisville, Kentucky
7:30 PM ET Salmon   45+1'
McClure   52'
Nagasato   77'
Report Taylor   9',   16' Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium
Attendance: 8,488
Referee: Matthew Franz
28 October 23 Racing Louisville 1–1 NJ/NY Gotham FC Louisville, Kentucky
7:30 PM ET Ashley   16'
Kizer   52'
Report Onumonu   7'
Lloyd   90'
Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium
Attendance: 6,508
Referee: Samantha Martinez
Note: Match originally scheduled for October 1; postponed per league-wide suspension of play for Oct. 1–3.[7]
31 October 24 NJ/NY Gotham FC 1–1 Racing Louisville Harrison, New Jersey
3:00 PM ET Purce   45+1'
Lloyd   53'
Freeman   72'
Report Salmon   54'
Kizer   69' (pen.)
Nagasato   81'
Stadium: Red Bull Arena
Referee: Karen Abt

The Women's Cup edit

Racing Louisville hosted and participated in the inaugural The Women's Cup, a four-team competition featuring two sides from the NWSL and two sides from Europe.[8] Racing Louisville and Chicago Red Stars from NWSL were joined by Paris Saint-Germain Féminine and FC Bayern Munich. In the semifinals on August 18, 2021, Racing Louisville drew with Chicago Red Stars and advanced to the Championship match on penalty kicks, where they would face Bayern Munich, who had also advanced past Paris Saint-Germain via penalty shootout. In the Championship match, Racing Louisville fell behind early in the second half before quickly equalizing on a goal by Jorian Baucom, then took the lead on a goal by Yūki Nagasato, only to yield another to Bayern Munich in stoppage time, sending the match to penalties. Racing Louisville prevailed in an 11-round shootout, after backup goalkeeper Katie Lund converted her spot kick and saved the attempt by her counterpart, Laura Benkarth.[9][10]

21 August Championship match Racing Louisville   2–2
(7–6 p)
  FC Bayern Munich Louisville, Kentucky
6:00 PM ET
Report
Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium
Attendance: 7,813
Penalties

NWSL Playoffs edit

Racing Louisville did not qualify for the NWSL Playoffs. Playoffs will start on November 6 and will conclude with the NWSL Championship on November 20, to be held at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville.[11]

Player statistics edit

Top scorers edit

Place Pos. No. Name CC IWC NWSL Total
1 FW 5   Cece Kizer 2 0 6 8
2 FW 9   Ebony Salmon 0 0 6 6
3 FW 10   Nadia Nadim 0 0 3 3
3 FW 17   Yūki Nagasato 0 1 2 3
5 FW 33   Jorian Baucom 1 1 0 2
5 FW 7   Savannah McCaskill 0 0 2 2
7 DF 15   Brooke Hendrix 1 0 0 1
7 FW 13   Emina Ekic 0 0 1 1
7 FW 20   Cheyna Matthews 0 0 1 1
7 FW 22   Katie McClure 0 0 1 1
Total 4 2 21 27

Assist leaders edit

Place Pos. No. Name CC IWC NWSL Total
1 FW 5   Cece Kizer 1 0 3 4
2 FW 9   Ebony Salmon 0 0 3 3
3 FW 7   Savannah McCaskill 0 0 2 2
3 MF 2   Lauren Milliet 0 1 1 2
3 FW 17   Yūki Nagasato 0 0 2 2
6 DF 11   Emily Fox 1 0 0 1
6 MF 8   Freja Olofsson 1 0 0 1
6 DF 3   Erin Simon 1 0 0 1
6 FW 13   Emina Ekic 0 0 1 1
6 FW 10   Nadia Nadim 0 0 1 1
6 FW 22   Katie McClure 0 0 1 1
Total 4 1 14 19

Clean sheets edit

Place Pos. No. Name CC NWSL Total
1 GK 1   Michelle Betos 1 4 5
Total 1 4 5

Disciplinary edit

Pos. No. Name CC IWC NWSL Total
               
FW 7   Savannah McCaskill 0 1 5 0 6 0
FW 17   Yūki Nagasato 0 0 4 0 4 0
DF 18   Kaleigh Riehl 0 0 3 0 3 0
MF 33   Jorian Baucom 1 0 2 0 3 0
FW 20   Cheyna Matthews 0 0 3 0 3 0
DF 14   Nealy Martin 0 0 2 0 2 0
DF 11   Emily Fox 1 0 1 0 2 0
DF 4   Gemma Bonner 0 0 2 0 2 0
DF 18   Kaleigh Riehl 0 0 2 0 2 0
FW 10   Nadia Nadim 0 0 2 0 2 0
FW 9   Ebony Salmon 0 0 2 0 2 0
DF 12   Sinclaire Miramontez 0 0 1 1 1 1
MF 8   Freja Olofsson 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW 22   Katie McClure 0 0 1 0 1 0
HC -   Christy Holly 0 0 1 0 1 0
FW 13   Emina Ekic 0 0 1 0 1 0
DF 3   Erin Simon 0 0 1 0 1 0
DF 16   Julia Ashley 0 0 1 0 1 0
Total 3 1 31 1 35 1

References edit

  1. ^ "National Women's Soccer League announces expansion to Louisville in 2021" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. October 22, 2019. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  2. ^ Aulbach, Lucas; Yates, Dominique (August 12, 2020). "Christy Holly will lead Racing Louisville FC, the city's new NWSL franchise, in 2021". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  3. ^ "Racing Louisville FC Adds Franchise's First Roster Addition in Trade with Chicago" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. October 26, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  4. ^ Garnder, Hayes (August 31, 2021). "Racing Louisville FC fires first head coach Christy Holly 'for cause'". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  5. ^ "Roster". racingloufc.com. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  6. ^ "Racing Louisville FC schedule 2021". Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  7. ^ "NWSL Announces Update Regarding This Weekend's Matches". Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  8. ^ "The International Women's Cup". Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  9. ^ "Lund stars as Racing tops Bayern to win The Women's Cup" (Press release). Racing Louisville FC. August 21, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  10. ^ "Racing Louisville vs. Bayern Munich: Racing Louisville wins on penalties!". Bavarian Football Works. August 22, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  11. ^ "NWSL CHAMPIONSHIP MOVED FROM PORTLAND TO LOUISVILLE AT PLAYERS' REQUEST". The Athletic. Retrieved October 13, 2021.

External links edit