Louisville soccer weekend recap

It was a weekend of delays and draws for the Louisville soccer community. Both Racing and LouCity had their kickoffs pushed back due to the big storm system that blanketed the Southeast. Racing pushed their season opener back 3 hours on Saturday night and City and Birmingham pushed their match a whole day back to Sunday at 4:30. While there were only two points earned, there were quite a few talking points to cover.

Let’s start with the first match chronologically, and that was Racing’s 8pm delayed season opener against North Carolina. I spent the majority of the weekend wondering why Racing would even try to have this match, but they played the weather correctly and had the “calmest” weather Saturday during the match window. Delaying the kickoff til 8pm also invited more attendance trouble as would not only weather be an obstacle, but now they were up against UL playing in the ACC Championship
The starting lineup was what I guessed Racing’s top lineup would be, minus Balcer out with an excused absence and Fischer in for her: Lund, Milliet, Wright, Jean, Petersen, Flint, Borges, DeMelo, Sonis, Sears, Fischer. The bench was full of rookies, which was a yikes moment.
Racing came out strong with a good start with some strong buildup play. Their reward came as a Petersen corner was sent back post and Arin Wright played it back across goal for an Emma Sears tap in. It was a deserved lead and a well worked team goal
Racing kept the pressure up as Sonis fired one right at the keeper and a Lauren Milliet-led press led to a turnover and a tame shot on goal. North Carolina answered with a look in their box fired across the face of our goal.
Ary had a header off a free kick saved and her rebound saved as well. Soon after, Taylor Flint had a teed up shot off a whiff go off the post. I was praying at this point for Racing to get that second goal and not regret missing these chances. To answer my prayer, Emma Sears forced a diving save on a break.
The half ended 1-0 with Racing playing a fantastic first shift of the season. Their press was strong and overall they look more organized and played with more intent than I had seen. It was one of those halves you don’t want to end because your team is playing so well and you don’t want to lose the momentum. How prophetic I became….
The rain intensified in the second half, and in the 55th minute Racing made a sub as Marisa DiGrande came on for Ary Borges. Ary had gone down for a period and sought treatment in the first half. This move mystified me. If Ary was even close to a question mark for the second half, why send her out??? Especially with how the conditions were and her injury history. This led to another mark in my book of Bev Yanez questionable coaching choices.
Also in terms of Bev’s coaching, North Carolina came out and took over the second half. The Courage executed much better and Racing could not find their first half rhythm. North Carolina equalized, fairly, off a Lund save and rebound tapped in. It was such a “Racing” way to concede.
The highlight of the second half for Racing was Sarah Webber’s professional debut. She came on for Fischer and instantly started causing chaos. She forced a fingertips save, went just high on a break, and overall provide a relief outlet up top by making runs and holding the ball.
Overall this was another Racing game that was a tale of two halves. Here we are in Year 5 and still struggling to get a complete performance out of this team. While opening draws have come to be a bit of a tradition for Racing, this one had no business being one. Racing had the chances in the first half to put this game away and came to regret not finishing them.
While this was another bipolar performance, the first half lead wasn’t the “typical” Racing lead where they counter or score against the run of play. Racing dominated and dictated that first half. This is also two straight results against North Carolina, Racing’s boogeyman. There is something to that, but until this team starts delivering complete games, and I start seeing Bev responding to other teams’ adjustments, I am unmoved.
Lastly, I have to give the team and its administration a shoutout for getting the game in. They absolutely made the right call to delay kickoff and it earned the “best” weather of the day. Another shoutout to the fans who came out, a reported 2,487, and it actually felt like maybe more were there on a dreary night with UL and Saint Patrick’s Day distractions.
Racing travel to Bay for a 10pm Saturday night kickoff

Louisville City had their match moved from Saturday night in Birmingham to 4:30 Sunday with the weather coming in. Coach Cruz made two changes to the lineup, with Adrien Perez replacing Jansen Wilson and McFadden for Dia. It overall was just not a fantastic performance for LouCity. Maybe it was the delay of a day on the match. Maybe it was the fact that the Legion always seem to play us tough. Maybe it was Enzo Martinez’s face and terrible hair (if you didn’t already know, you will soon that I despise him).
City pestered Birmingham’s goal during the first half with both midfielders, Duncan and Davila, just pulling their shots wide and high. The 30th minute saw a beautiful thru ball played by Duncan to a streaking Manny Perez who fired his shot upper 90 near post for the opening goal. Soon after McFadden had a diving header saved on the doorstep. A Perez once again on a break, this time Adrien, could only shoot with his weaker right, and it was saved. First-half stoppage time saw Legion equalize with a header off a free kick as they overloaded the space around Dia and Manny. It was a back breaker to concede right before the whistle.
Manny forced a save and a clearance off the line to start the second half and McFadden had a header off a corner saved backpost. Birmingham forced Las into a couple of second half saves, but otherwise the match ended as the first half ended 1-1.
This was a disappointing draw. City had the bulk of possession, had more shots on goal, and simply ran into a stone wall in the form of Matt van Oekel in goal. As much as you can highlight his great game, you can also expect City to be a bit more clinical in their opportunities.
4 points from the opening road swing isn’t disappointing, but I would have had expected the results to be switched, with City drawing Charleston and beating Legion. City will host their home opener Saturday at 4 against a red hot Loudoun United that has won their first two and scored five goals doing it, and have done both on the road. This is not your Grandpa’s Loudoun and I hope City come in to the game focused and ready for a fight.