Harrison, NJ—Rose Lavelle’s brilliance in the final minutes sealed Gotham FC’s return to the postseason, as her 85th-minute free kick earned a 2-2 draw with Racing Louisville on Sunday in National Women’s Soccer League action.
The draw secured Gotham (9-7-9) a spot in the NWSL playoffs with one regular-season game remaining, marking the club’s third straight postseason appearance.
Gotham struck first in front of their home fans when Jaelin Howell fired a long-range effort into the net in the 15th minute — her fourth goal of the year. Janine Sonis leveled the match for Racing in the 29th minute with a deflected shot from close range.
After the break, rookie Sarah Weber gave Racing (9-9-7) a 2-1 advantage in the 65th minute, slamming home a bouncing ball from six yards out. But Lavelle provided the late heroics, bending a 20-yard free kick just inside the post to earn Gotham the vital point.
Louisville closed the weekend in eighth place — the final playoff position — holding a two-point edge over the ninth-place North Carolina Courage. The Kentucky club, which joined the NWSL in 2021, remains in pursuit of its first-ever postseason berth.
Moultrie’s Brace Sends Thorns Back to the Playoffs
In Los Angeles, Olivia Moultrie scored both goals as the Portland Thorns clinched their league-record ninth consecutive playoff appearance with a 2-0 victory over Angel City FC.
Moultrie opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, showing quick footwork before curling a spectacular shot into the top corner from 21 yards out. She doubled the lead in the 60th minute, calmly converting from the penalty spot after Sara Doorsoun fouled Reilyn Turner in the box. The brace gave the 20-year-old midfielder eight goals for the season.
Angel City (7-12-6) had already been eliminated from playoff contention prior to kickoff. Veterans Christen Press and Ali Riley came off the bench in the second half, earning a standing ovation from home supporters in what was their final appearance at BMO Stadium before retiring at season’s end.
With the win, the Thorns (10-8-7) strengthened their hold on a postseason position and continued their remarkable streak of playoff qualification — a standard unmatched in NWSL history.
