HARRISON, NJ(SMI-WOMEN GLOBAL-SPORTS-OCT. 19-20, 2025)-Gotham FC & US. Women's national team midfielder " Rose Lavelle" scored the tying goal late in the 2nd half to end the game 2-2, against Racing Louisville, securing a play-off spot for "The Bats' at Sports Illustrated Stadium.

Prior to the game, Ali Krieger ( 2-time World Cup champion with the USWNT & former player with Gotham FC) was honored with her new title as Gotham FC Club Ambassador & with the tie, the Bats make the NWSL playoff for the 3rd consecutive year with 36-points and 7th place in the standings with one game remaining in the season.

Gotham FC went to the offensive from the start and opened the score during the first 15' of the game though midfielder Jaelin Howell. The goal play was originated through the left-side field when Howell passed the ball to Josefine Hasbo to Jaedyn Shaw back to Jaelin Howell who scored with a right-footed bullet for her fourth goal of the season and career, hitting the left-side goalpost into back of the net for 1-0, New York at 15' mark. 

The Bats kept the pressure and 5' later in another counter-attack though the
right-side, midfielder Jaedyn Shaw rolled a perfect pass inside the 18' to forward Midge Purse who immediately shot right-footed canon hitting the crossbar back into the pitch that would put Gotham 2-0, at 20' mark.    

 
fell behind 1-0, very early in the game when Orlando top-striker 
Martha centered a dead ball inside the 18, from 35-yards away finding forward Barbara Banda( Zambia) who crossed it with a header to Gotham's defender Lilly Reale who tried to clear it but instead ended in back of the net for her own goal to give the visitors 1-0, at 01:18 mark.

The Visitors answer back and level the game 1-1, with a goal of their own at 29' minute. Forward Emma Sears in a breakaway through the right side field corner crossed the ball across the inside the penalty box finding forward Janine Sonis who scored with right-footed in back of the net for the equalizer. 

Gotham's Lavelle in the final play of the half found a ball just barely inside the 18' and a shot a left-footed canon with Louisville's goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer making a sensational save and the ball bouncing-off the crossbar back into the pitch to closed-out the first half 1-1. 

In the second half, after both teams traded back & forth counter-attacks, Racing Louisville went in front 2-1, when midfielder Lauren Milliet through the right-side field corner centered a pass inside the penalty box intended to forward Sarah Weber but Gotham's defender Jess Carter mishandle the ball giving it to Weber who scored to the opposite goalpost to make it 2-1, for the Visitors over Gotham at 66' minute.

With five minute left in the game, and the play-off spot on the line, Gotham's midfielder Rose Lavelle pulled a miracle and scored a beautiful 20-yard left-footed direct dick to the left-goalpost upper corner to tie the game 2-2, and sent the team and the crowd in wild celebration. 

With the 2-2, draw, Gotham FC added made the playoff with 36-points and in 7th place in the NWSL standings with one game left in the season.

Article Written & Photo By Marcello Cutti II/Starlight Illustrated