A 1-0 victory never felt so good! The pure joy on the players’ faces was contagious as they celebrated post-match. During the match, their focus and passion was on display in a way that I hadn’t noticed before.

Being able to shut-out Gotham (#4 in last week’s standings with their extra game played), at home, to a crowd of over 5000, with Flint’s first goal of the season, Bloomer’s home debut and a clean sheet, not to mention the beautiful weather - I can see why Lynn Family overflowed with joy last evening.

*As always, these pictures are free to download and share. I do this as a service to the community and to Racing Louisville and Louisville City football clubs. Hope you enjoy!

Pre-match, the team and Lauren Milliet’s family recognized her 100 NWSL appearances with Racing, including a feat no other NWSL player has accomplished (100 NWSL appearances with the same club without missing a match).

To the sweet mom who was hoping to get a picture of her daughter standing with Lauren Milliet, I hope you find these snaps. Happy Mothers’ Day! Look at those smiles! Racing fans for life.

*The team repped their teammates Katie Lund and Maddie Pokorny who are getting treatments and recovery from season-ending injuries.*

Captain Arin Wright bringing the ball down the pitch. Former Racing player Jaelin Howell managed to find her way into most of my pictures, partly because I still miss Jae, but mostly because she was all. over. the. field.

Ary Borges enjoys watching the game from the stands with her family. She’s working off her 4-game suspension from a post-match red card given for trying to hold the refs accountable to do their jobs at the Racing v Portland game on 4-27.

Two current and two former Racing players fight it out over a ball near Gotham’s goal. The ball stayed in bounds but out of the goal. Left to right is Emma Sears, Jae Howell, Savanna DeMelo, Nealy Martin.

Lots of high-momentum plays were blown dead mid-strike because of the ref’s intense love of his whistle. You could hear the confusion from the players and the fans more prominently than you could hear the drums during most of the match.

*Kayla Fischer keeps the pressure on the Gotham Keeper (with later help from Sav and others) reminding her that we like to score when you time waste near your goal.*

*Kayla had several great runs at the goal…*

*…and several close encounters. There’s Jae again, making Racing work for it.*

*And there’s our player of the match, Taylor Flint, working for it.*

*Maybe the only thing that can slow down Kayla Fischer is a ball to the face.*

The montage below is called the Fouls Gallery. Some of these were called. Some of these should have been yellow cards. And at least one should have been a culmination of yellow cards and warnings into a red card on an unnamed Gotham player who I still miss.

*Lauren Milliet’s absolute control of the call and the situation as she scans the field for her next move is pure Milliet.*

*One of Blooms’ amazing saves. There’s a punch coming later. Wait for it.*

As a defender, I never see it as Lauren Milliet’s job to score, but everyone in the stadium wants her to so badly. I thought this might be her chance, but she was more strategic and set up another player to take a shot.

*This Gotham player conceded a little early but had the right idea. “I give up.” I wouldn’t want to go 1×1 with Taylor Flint either.*

*Ellie Jean was on fire last night. I saw a new level of intensity from her that gave me a new appreciation for the role she plays on this Racing team.*

*And there’s the punch from Bloomer! Gotham is lucky they didn’t get in her way. Well most of them didn’t.*

*Janine Sonis challenges Martin as she takes the ball down the pitch.*

Loved this friendly play between Sav and Nealy Martin.

This image, previously featured in the Foul Gallery, needs to be revisited because this was a goal in the works. Deciding that Sav and Nealy were playing too nice, Jae goes after Sav and doesn’t hold back. It’s probably good that she didn’t, because look how far out the Keeper was. Too bad the ref didn’t have the cajones to give her a red card after the brutal tackle that I missed because I was cheering for Sav.

*Courney Petersen is assigned to harass Jae Howell. Petersen was fantastic at general harassment of Gotham all night.*

Speaking of fantastic, look at these rookies play off each other to get the ball down the pitch. I think Katie O’Kane earned her starting spot on the team last night and if we could start 12, I’d nominate Sarah Weber as the 12th. Something to be said for the team bonding that Coach Bev has been promoting since taking the reins at Racing.

And nothing contributes to that bond more than a goooooooal! Lauren Milliet is the first to realize that Sav’s pass to Taylor for an out-of-box goal is in the net and the Gotham Keeper is on her knees.

*Sav told Taylor “thanks for the assist!” during the celebration of Taylor’s first goal of the season.*

Someone should’ve told Gotham that time wasting is better when they’re ahead, not behind, but this actually might have been the ref again. Ball positioning and whistle blowing were high priorities.

*Have to, have to, have to give O’Kane a major shout-out for her intensity of play the entire match. She just didn’t slow down.*

*Another awesome save by Bloomer to keep Gotham off the board.*

*Emma Sears was quietly threatening the entire time. Her specialty. Wonder if this will make Seattle sleep on her at Racing’s next match. Don’t be sleepless, Seattle!*

*Time for the smiles to come out! Get ready for a Gatorade bath, Taylor! (It did not wash away that beautiful smile.)*

It’s-much-easier-to-talk-to-the-Media-after-a-win Gallery

Celebration Gallery!

Fan Appreciation Gallery

Lauren Milliet Appreciation Gallery

Jaelin Howell Appreciation Gallery - her legacy continues as Racing continues their partnership with Down Syndrome of Louisville. She and Kayla Fischer shared some love post-match with last night’s honorary captain, Levi.

I’ll call this the Coach Appreciation Gallery and sneak in some pictures of Racing’s premiere Keeper from their inaugural season, the wonderful Michelle Betos. She’s now the Keeper Coach and sometime back-up Keeper for Gotham, and we love when she comes to visit.

I couldn’t be happier for Coach Bev and Coach Sergio after tonight’s win. So much hard work to get to this point!

And finally, the Jordyn Bloomer Appreciation Gallery! I think this is the largest one, so I saved it for last. The high energy that Blooms always brings to the team is magnified with her starting spot.

5-9-25 Racing v Gotham

5-10-25 Lou City v. Pitt & Pups on the Pitch

5-7-25 Lou City v. MNUFC