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)
Biggest winCHI 0 - 3 LOU (June 26)
Biggest defeatNCC 5 - 0 LOU (May 28)

Background

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

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

Preseason friendlies

February 27, 2021 Racing Louisville 4–0 Louisville Cardinals Louisville, Kentucky
Milliet 5'
Kizer 22', 24', 49'
Stadium: Thurman Hutchins Park
Attendance: 0
March 7, 2021 Vanderbilt Commodores 1–2 Racing Louisville Nashville, Tennessee
Kelley 68' 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'
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

Standings — East Division

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

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
Assistant referees: 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
Assistant referees: 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
Assistant referees: 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
Assistant referees: Zeno Cho
Fourth official: Christian Centeno

NWSL Regular Season

Standings

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 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

Results summary

OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
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

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
Assistant referees: 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
Assistant referees: 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
Assistant referees: 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
Assistant referees: 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
Assistant referees: 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
Assistant referees: 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
Assistant referees: 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
Assistant referees: 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
Assistant referees: 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
Assistant referees: 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
Assistant referees: 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
Assistant referees: 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

International Women's Cup

Racing Louisville hosted and participated in the inaugural International 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.

21 August Championship match Racing Louisville 2(7)–2(6) FC Bayern Munich Louisville, Kentucky
6:00 PM ET Baucom 54'
McCaskill  74'
Nagasato 85'
Report Bühl 49'
Bonner 90+5' (o.g.)
Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium
Attendance: 7,813

NWSL Playoffs

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.[9]

Player statistics

Top scorers

PlacePos.No.NameCCIWCNWSLTotal
1FW5 Cece Kizer2068
2FW9 Ebony Salmon0066
3FW10 Nadia Nadim0033
3FW17 Yūki Nagasato0123
5FW33 Jorian Baucom1102
5FW7 Savannah McCaskill0022
7DF15 Brooke Hendrix1001
7FW13 Emina Ekic0011
7FW20 Cheyna Matthews0011
7FW22 Katie McClure0011
Total422127

Assist leaders

PlacePos.No.NameCCIWCNWSLTotal
1FW5 Cece Kizer1034
2FW9 Ebony Salmon0033
3FW7 Savannah McCaskill0022
3MF2 Lauren Milliet0112
3FW17 Yūki Nagasato0022
6DF11 Emily Fox1001
6MF8 Freja Olofsson1001
6DF3 Erin Simon1001
6FW13 Emina Ekic0011
6FW10 Nadia Nadim0011
6FW22 Katie McClure0011
Total411419

Clean sheets

PlacePos.No.NameCCNWSLTotal
1GK1 Michelle Betos145
Total145

Disciplinary

Pos. No. Name CC IWC NWSL Total
  
FW7 Savannah McCaskill015060
FW17 Yūki Nagasato004040
DF18 Kaleigh Riehl003030
MF33 Jorian Baucom102030
FW20 Cheyna Matthews003030
DF14 Nealy Martin002020
DF11 Emily Fox101020
DF4 Gemma Bonner002020
DF18 Kaleigh Riehl002020
FW10 Nadia Nadim002020
FW9 Ebony Salmon002020
DF12 Sinclaire Miramontez001111
MF8 Freja Olofsson100010
FW22 Katie McClure001010
HC- Christy Holly001010
FW13 Emina Ekic001010
DF3 Erin Simon001010
DF16 Julia Ashley001010
Total31311351

References

  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. "NWSL CHAMPIONSHIP MOVED FROM PORTLAND TO LOUISVILLE AT PLAYERS' REQUEST". The Athletic. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
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