Racing Louisville FC
CONNOR CUNNINGHAM

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A constant battle in sports is laying out expectations and then actually living up to them.

More often than not, you have to publicly set high expectations to attract fans to give them hope. You promise there is success coming, whether that is immediate or somewhere in the not-so-distant future. And that frequently frames how anyone will evaluate or view your season.

Racing Louisville FC is in its fourth year of existence. The club has never made the NWSL playoffs but did come close last season. From the outset this year, one with Bev Yanez leading the way as a first-time head coach, Louisville has been adamant about its goal: break through to the postseason.

Following a second-straight win Friday night, a 2-0 home victory over the Houston Dash, Racing finds itself tied with the North Carolina Courage at 15 points in the league standings. If the season ended today, those two would take the final two of eight playoff spots for an expanded postseason that resulted from NWSL expansion.

The regular season does not end June 8. It ends Nov. 3. There is a lot of time in between now and then for this team to rise to the occasion or not.

Right now, I believe you are seeing some signs that the rise could be coming.

The Dynamic DeMelo

Savannah DeMelo

Let's start with the obvious: Savannah DeMelo is an outright star. DeMelo, along with another crucial piece to Louisville's success in outside back Carson Pickett, earned NWSL Best XI distinction for May. And that is because she is on a tear.

The magnificent American midfielder has shown total control of her game while scoring five goals over the past six matches. Those five goals tie DeMelo for the fourth-most in the league. She also ranks 13th in the NWSL in goal-creating actions, which is an advanced stat that kind of explains itself: DeMelo is the most dangerous scoring threat Louisville has. 

Her dribbling, something Yanez praises often, shows itself well in highlight fashion but also in drawing fouls. In her third year as a pro, the Southern California alumna currently leads the NWSL with 40 fouls won. Utah's Madison Pogarch is in second with 26. 

That is even more valuable when you consider no one is as dangerous as DeMelo when given a free kick. From 2016 to now, her three direct free kick goals are tied the second most in the league, trailing only Megan Rapinoe. 

Total control of your game also means helping defensively too. DeMelo currently has the highest tackle percentage of her career (47.4%). She also has four interceptions after having nine last season. 

Now, returning to the attack for a moment: I still think Racing needs more consistent goal scoring from another source. Keeping an eye on signs of a return at any point from Brazilian midfielder Ary Borges, who has missed time due to a meniscus tear, is key because she makes a difference.

But rookie Emma Sears has been stellar and figures to continue shining. It would be a major development if her fellow rookie in Reilyn Turner starts heating up.

Uchenna Kanu also proved to be a spark as a substitute against Houston, but remember: She started the year with four goals in five matches too. Her recent performance could warrant another starting opportunity.

Back Line Bond

Abby Erceg

The defense for Racing is something we should praise more. Yes, Louisville now has back-to-back shutouts. But this group of defenders is one we have seen continue to bond and thrive.

Racing has rolled with a consistent and veteran back four ever since Elli Pikkujämsä was lost for the year due to a torn patellar tendon: Abby Erceg and Arin Wright are the center backs while Lauren Milliet and Carson Pickett are the outside backs. These defenders bring a combined 32 seasons of NWSL experience. 

When you play four knowledgeable players like that together for a longer period, you can see how it pays off. Louisville has conceded 12 goals, which is good for the fourth-best mark in the NWSL and isn't far off from what its expected goals against figure is (14.16). 

Helping those defenders is whom I would say has consistently been Racing's best player this season: Taylor Flint.

Taylor Flint

In January, Louisville sent San Diego $150,000 in allocation money in exchange for Flint. She has been worth every penny as a physical presence in the defensive midfield. 

The 6-1 midfielder towers to lead the NWSL with 38 interceptions, 32 tackles won and 30 blocks. Flint is one of two players in the league with at least 30 tackle attempts (34) and a tackle percentage of more than 60% (61.8%). 

All of this is even more important due to another piece of injury context. Club captain and defensive midfielder Jaelin Howell, who did sub in for a minute in Friday's win over Houston, has not truly played since April 28, when she logged 25 minutes. 

If she can be healthy to form a punishing duo with Flint, and Louisville can continue to count on typically strong goalkeeper Katie Lund, then opponents are going to keep having a tough time scoring.

Drawing to a Close

Racing Louisville FC

All of those things could mean nothing because of one key figure in Racing's record column: a league-leading six draws.

Is a draw better than a loss? Of course. Leaving a match with a point instead of no points is basic math. But as I have written here before: Every draw is different. 

There are matches like Louisville's road draw at Kansas City or scoreless draw at home against San Diego where you could argue Racing either fought well to get a point or could have come away with more. Then, there are draws like two blown two-goal leads against Orlando and Portland that will haunt you.

Considering that is exactly what happened last season to miss the postseason, closing games is paramount for a playoff push. Racing is tied for the second-most points dropped from a winning position with eight and has just one point gained from a losing position.

If you assumed all of those eight points from winning positions go to the club for victories, Louisville would be in fourth in the NWSL. If you cut that in half to four, Racing would be in fifth. 

This month, Racing has four more matches and three of them are against teams below Louisville in the standings: at Angel City on June 19, at Seattle Reign on June 23 and a home game vs. Bay FC on June 29. The next match will be a good measuring stick for more growth: Defending NWSL champion Gotham FC visits Lynn Family Stadium a week from today at noon for a nationally televised game on ESPN. 

There will not be much, if any, room for error moving forward. Professional performances like the last two wins, and even the impressive effort to get that draw in Kansas City for a sample size of three games, are what will be needed to not waste opportunities for victories.

If it all comes together, Racing Louisville FC should then be running to the playoffs for the first time. 

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