LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) - Racing Louisville FC head coach Bev Yanez has said it plenty of times: Getting hot at the right time is ultimately what can launch a team into a playoff run.

The latter is still to be determined for her hungry club to see if it can make history and get to its first postseason. But Saturday night saw another clear sign that maybe this team is figuring it out just in time.

"Everybody knows now is the time," Yanez said. "Right now is the time for us to step into what we're doing well and why we're doing it well."

Racing Louisville FC

Louisville has now put together back-to-back comeback victories, something it has not done well for a majority of its existence, with the latest being a 2-1 victory over the North Carolina Courage. Racing had never beaten North Carolina in 12 matches across all competitions.

"I'd like to reiterate that we have come from behind now twice at home," Racing defender Lauren Milliet said. "I feel like that's a testament to our character over the last couple weeks and our resilience, our belief in the group."

It was greatly tested again, as the home side was trailing 1-0 going into the 79th minute. North Carolina controlled possession, so Louisville had to patiently wait to try and capitalize on any mistake.

Standout rookie Emma Sears subbed on to break through for some hope and do just that, tracking down a ball from Courtney Petersen, dribbling around the goalkeeper and tapping in an equalizer.

Later, in stoppage time, Savannah DeMelo sent in a corner kick that ended up at the foot of Petersen again. The defender fired a shot on goal, which hit a North Carolina hand in the box, giving Racing a penalty kick. Bethany Balcer buried the opportunity and Louisville clung to its late lead until the final whistle blew.

"I'm proud of the grind that we had, especially in those dying moments," Milliet said. "It's just really, really good stuff."

"It took patience to pick our moments of when to go and when to not," Louisville goalkeeper Katie Lund said. "It could get frustrating for us to kind of sit back for a long time, but the girls did great. I am so proud.

"And then to go up and be able to finish the win off, I'm really, really proud. I'm really excited with where our progress is going."

This victory means Racing is now back in an NWSL playoff position thanks to a goal differential tiebreaker over Bay FC. With five games remaining, Louisville will need to ride this recent wave the rest of the way to hang onto that spot in a tight race.

"Right now, when you talk about the need to get points, to put yourself in a very good position, the group is massively bought into that and is successful in what we need from them right now," Yanez said. "Everybody knows this league. You got to put your opportunities away when you get them and it changes games."

"It's just the belief," Lund said. "Like, look at the group that we have here. Everyone believes in each other and everyone's willing to work hard. 
 
"I think our defensive effort is there and that's how you win games. And like I said, it might not be pretty, but we're going to grind it out. And that's what we did this game and the last game."
 
This fourth-year franchise is the last one that needs any reminder of how quickly things can change if it doesn't keep carrying this kind of resilient focus. But for maybe the first time in that short history, you can feel a sense of optimism that a breakthrough is just beginning.
 
"It's the never say die mentality," Milliet said. "We have to fight until the final whistle regardless of the result. And I think that is starting to bleed through the squad."
Racing Louisville FC

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