Four Racing Louisville players were named to the UKG NWSL Challenge Cup All-Tournament Team for their performances in the competition’s group stage, the National Women’s Soccer League announced Thursday.
Goalkeeper Katie Lund, defender Abby Erceg and midfielders Savannah DeMelo and Jaelin Howell all earned the honors after guiding Racing to the Challenge Cup knockout stage.
Racing is set to play in the Challenge Cup final at 12:30 p.m. ET Saturday against the North Carolina Courage at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.
Racing tied the Challenge Cup record for consecutive wins by opening the competition with four straight victories. The 12 points proved enough to clinch the Cup knockout stage spot awarded to the best-finishing second-place team in the group stage. Louisville topped OL Reign, 1-0, on Wednesday night in Seattle to advance to the title match, thanks in large part of the defensive efforts of Erceg and Lund.
Lund, 26, tied for the most shutouts in the competition’s group stage, posting three clean sheets. The Texas native, who is also among the league leaders in regular-season shutouts, made eight saves in six starts through the group stage. Her two stops and tempo-controlling play on Wednesday willed Racing to a semifinal win.
New to Racing this year, Erceg has been immense at the heart of the team’s defense, playing every minute in five of Louisville’s six group stage games. The 33-year-old NWSL veteran rang up six interceptions and 11 clearances, ranking 15th in the competition in possession recoveries.
Two of the three key pieces to Racing’s bright young midfield, DeMelo and Howell each made significant impact on their team’s group stage success, albeit in different ways.
The 23-year-old Howell stood out in a variety of categories while playing in five group stage games, ranking first in fouls won, seventh in shots on target, 10th in interceptions and 15th in possession recoveries (tied with Erceg).
In just three matches before she left for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup with the United States, DeMelo scored three goals and added an assist. The midfielder is the only Racing player this year to score a brace (two goals) in a game, slotting home two in a Challenge Cup win over Kansas City.
