**Louisville, Kentucky** – Racing Louisville FC and OL Reign battled to a 1-1 draw despite the visitors dominating in the shots and shots on target categories, with Louisville goalkeeper Katie Lund making 12 saves in the encounter.
Not 15 seconds in, OL Reign were on Louisville’s doorstep as the first move of the night saw a double save produced by Racing goalkeeper Katie Lund. Attacker Megan Rapinoe found herself free and in space on the left side. Rapinoe then directed a ball into the penalty area for XX directly in front of goal, who not only had her initial shot saved but even a follow up from a yard out repelled out for a corner.
However, in the 2 ^nd minute and still within the ensuing move, OL Reign found the first goal of the night via midfielder Jess Fishlock. Rapinoe’s corner in toward the middle of the box then found Fishlock, who lashed it home with her right foot despite a deflection off a Racing defender in front of goal. The goal is OL Reign’s fastest of the year both home and away.
In the 23 ^rd minute, the visitors then nearly doubled their lead again via a corner kick opportunity. Rapinoe’s delivery to the back post found forward Jordyn Huitema, who was then able to head back across goal to pick out teammate Alana Cook. Attempting to put home from just a few yards out, Cook instead rocketed her shot into the crossbar, and it was eventually seen away.
Though the first half was absolutely dominated by OL Reign in terms of shots (14-3) and shots on target (6-1), Louisville would end up equalizing before the breakthrough its lone shot on target of the half as forward Kirsten Davis scored in the first of an eventual eight minutes of added time. Following a recovery just inside their attacking half, Davis was able to march all the way toward goal before she pulled up from around 20 yards out and sliced a low shot across goal that beat Reign goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce just ahead of the halftime break.
Into the second half, the Reign continued to push the Louisville defense as attempts for Sofia Huerta and Jess Fishlock were denied within from minutes of the restart by Lund, who stands as the league’s leading shotstopper this year. Louisville would then come close via attacker Emina Ekic in the 75 ^th minute, though her attempt would sail just high and wide of goal.
With the end of regulation time looming, one of the best opportunities for the then came for the visitors in the 77 ^th minute with Fishlock given an opportunity to secure a game winner not more than six yards out from goal. On the break, midfielder Rose Lavelle charged ahead toward the right side of the Louisville penalty area where she picked out the run of Fishlock in the middle of the box. Settling the ball with a good touch, Fishlock was able to get a shot away that, though powerful, was down the middle of the goal where Lund was able to meet it and still produce a solid save to keep the shot out.
Without doubt the best opportunity of the entire half for the Reign, though, came at perhaps the most unfortunate time as forward Aly Watt failed to convert a chance inside the penalty area in the first of four minutes of added time. As a ball came in toward the back post for attacker Tobin Heath, Heath did the hard work of getting it back across goal for Watt to pounce onto. With the ball at an awkward height, Watt did well to get her foot over the shot but could not direct it in as it rolled agonizingly wide.
In the end, despite being outshot 25-6 and 11-1 in shots on target, Louisville was able to carve out a point against the visiting OL Reign with Racing goalkeeper Katie Lund making 12 crucial saves to help her side earn the draw. The point does see Louisville’s winless streak extended to nine games, but still helps OL Reign to gain at least a point in six of their last seven matches.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights