Rose Lavelle scores in Gotham debut to salvage draw with Louisville

Rose Lavelle scored in the seventh minute of stoppage time from just past the penalty spot and NJ/NY Gotham FC was able to salvage a 1-1 tie against visiting Racing Louisville on Sunday in Harrison, N.J.

Lavelle's goal in the 97th minute came two minutes after Racing Louisville ended a scoreless deadlock when Reilyn Turner redirected a deflected ball into the goal for a brief 1-0 lead.

Gotham (1-2-2, 5 points), the defending NWSL champions, scored a goal for just the third time in five games but has earned a point in the standings with a tie in two of its last three games.

Ann-Katrin Berger made four saves in her Gotham debut after she was acquired from England's Chelsea earlier this month. Lavelle came on as a substitute in the 74th minute while also making her debut with the club.

Katherine Lund made two saves for Louisville (1-0-5, 8 points), which remained one of three unbeaten teams in the league. Louisville scored its lone goal one week after setting a franchise record for goals in a game after a 5-1 victory over the Utah Royals.

Lund received help on the goal line from teammate Carson Pickett when the defender cleared a shot by Gotham's Crystal Dunn off the line with her left foot in the 49th minute.

Dunn made her first start of the season for Gotham in her fifth game with the club. Both Lavelle and Dunn are longtime members of the United States women's national team.

Louisville's Jaelin Howell departed in the 26th minute with a left calf injury, while teammate Savannah DeMelo left in the 77th minute after an apparent head injury.