LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Emina Ekic, the rookie born and raised in Louisville, boasted an assist and a goal of her own in a historic 2-0 victory over the Washington Spirit, leading Racing Louisville FC to the first win in the club's short history.

The result marked the NWSL expansion's first win and came in front of 6,011 fans at a sold-out Lynn Family Stadium.

“It was a big moment,” Coach Christy Holly said. “It was a big release for the players. We talk about going into games with proactive confidence. Because we are so young, you can feel tentative about feeling good and believing what you can do. You sometimes wait for sometimes good to happen in order to appreciate what they can do."

Racing Louisville FC forward Emina Ekic (13) looks on against the Washington Spirit during an NWSL Challenge Cup soccer match, Thursday, April 15, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Will Newton)

A University of Louisville graduate, Ekic was named the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year last fall before declaring for the 2021 NWSL Draft. Racing selected her No. 5 overall, and Ekic said there were pros and cons to that.

"Being here, there were probably some more distractions and more of, ’This is my city and I have something to prove’ — just carrying that weight sometimes can get you," she said. "Obviously, I didn’t have to move. I didn’t have to adjust to a new environment. I have the support of the city, my family and friends. It is just awesome to play in front of them. Having them here in the stadium is incredible. This is where I wanted to be, and I am so glad I ended up here.”

In the 75th minute, Savannah McCaskill played Ekic in behind down the right side of the pitch. Ekic quickly cut back in toward the goal and placed a looping shot just wide of a defender. It found the back of the net, and the celebration was loud at Lynn Family Stadium.

Racing doubled its lead in the 81st minute with some more help from the rookie. Lodging a counter, Ekic delivered a ball to the feet of Cece Kizer, who sunk her shot to Washington keeper Aubrey Bledsoe’s left.

Racing walked away from the match 1-0-1 overall and, for the time, moved atop the NWSL table two games into its inaugural regular season.

The club returns next week, meeting the North Carolina Courage on the road Friday, May 28.