CJS Press Box

Photo Courtesy of Gotham FC Media

HARRISON, N.J. – On Sunday evening at Sports Illustrated Stadium, a warm, 60-degree calm settled over the crowd—one that matched Gotham FC’s growing confidence. The sanguinity shone beyond the weather as Gotham secured its third consecutive win and clean sheet with a 1-0 victory over Racing Louisville.

Riding momentum from the past two wins over Bay FC and Chicago Stars, Gotham controlled the rhythm early, dominating possession and dictating play in the attacking half. 

That control paid off in the 16th minute, when Jaedyn Shaw shot to the center of the net from close range. From there, the bats stayed composed, maintaining pressure to finish with 62% possession and seeing out the result. 

By assisting the game-winning goal, forward Jordynn Dudley became the second rookie in team history to have a goal contribution in three games in a row. 

“I think for us, she’s [Dudley] been so helpful coming in and being so dynamic on and off the ball,” said Shaw in the post-match press conference. “She can post up, she can dribble, she can run it behind. Um, she can combine, so it’s been really fun playing off of her, and I think that she’s gonna continue to rise to the occasion.”

Dudley plays “generous and humble,” head coach Juan Carlos Amorós said, highlighting her willingness to do the less glamorous work that drives the team’s build-up.

“She’s a player with character; she has to handle a lot of fouls because of the way she plays; she’s handling that well,” he added. 

Dudley’s resilience was tested early. She went down twice in the first half, drawing concern from the crowd, but each time returned to her feet to loud cheers and went on to play the full 96 minutes. Two of Louisville’s three yellow cards came on challenges against her.

That physical edge underscored Gotham’s broader defensive effort, especially with four defenders—Bruninha, Kayla Duran, Mandy Freeman and Emily Sonnett—out due to injury. 

“It’s not just that the defensive line, it’s everybody from the nine, right through, all the way back to the goalkeeper,” defender Jess Carter said, crediting the win to the team’s defensive focus and commitment to track back, challenging the ball.

Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger preserved the clean sheet with a key save in the 17th minute, as Gotham became the first team to record six shutouts in its first eight matches of an NWSL season.

“I think it’s one of the games I’m most proud of from my time here,” Amorós said, citing the “demanding” schedule this week and the “bumpy start” to the season.

He credited the win to the full squad. “We are a team that relies on the 26 players that we have to be who we are.”

With Dudley now named NWSL Rookie of the Month and Gotham riding a winning streak, the team heads into its next home match against Boston Legacy FC on May 9 looking to continue its momentum. 

It will be the second meeting between the two after Gotham opened its season with a win over Boston, which enters the match coming off its first franchise victory the same night.