NWSL roundup: Ella Hase lifts playoff-bound Racing Louisville past Bay

Ella Hase scored early in the second half and Racing Louisville clinched an NWSL playoff spot by defeating visiting Bay FC 1-0 on Sunday on the last day of the regular season.

Racing Louisville (10-9-7, 37 points) takes a five-match unbeaten streak to the postseason, though its two previous results were ties. Louisville needed to win to remain in eighth place and ahead of the North Carolina Courage in the race to the playoffs, and rose to seventh place with Gotham's loss on Sunday.

Hase scored in the 48th minute off an assist from Katie O'Kane.

Bay (4-14-8, 20 points) ended the season on a 15-match winless slide.

North Carolina Courage 3, Gotham 2

The host Courage scored two early goals, but they needed a Louisville loss or tie in order to snatch the final playoff spot.

Meredith Speck and Manaka Matsukubo scored at Cary, N.C., for a 2-0 lead and the margin was padded for North Carolina (9-9-8, 35 points) courtesy of an own goal early in the second half.

Gotham (9-8-9, 36 points), which secured the final playoff spot despite the loss, scored on Rose Lavelle's penalty kick in the 87th minute and Gabi Portilho's goal in extra time.

Kansas City Current 2, San Diego Wave 1

Debinha and Nichelle Prince, who entered as a substitute and scored for the first time this season, posted second-half goals as the host Current added to their league-best record.

The Current finished with a 21-3-2 mark (65 points), aiding by winning their last four home matches. Haley Hopkins assisted on Prince's winning goal in the 75th minute.

The Wave (10-9-7, 37 points), who also will be in the postseason, received a first-half goal from Dudinha.

Utah Royals 1, Washington Spirit 0

Paige Monaghan scored in the fourth minute and it held up at Sandy, Utah.

Washington (12-6-8, 44 points), which owns the league's second-best record, has a three-match winless string (0-2-1).

Lara Prasnikar assisted on the goal for Utah (6-13-7, 25 points) as the Royals concluded their season. Monaghan notched her fifth goal of the season and one for the second match in a row.

Seattle Reign 1, Orlando Pride 1

Jordyn Bugg's goal for Seattle in the 79th minute forged a tie as the teams played for playoff seeding at Orlando.

Orlando (11-8-7, 40 points) received a goal from Carson Pickett in the 76th minute, but the draw was enough to keep the Pride, who have a five-match unbeaten streak, ahead of Seattle (10-7-9, 39 points) in the standings.

Portland Thorns 2, Houston Dash 0

Deyna Castellanos and Jessie Fleming scored in the first half in the home victory. Fleming assisted on the first goal.

Portland (11-8-7, 40 points) ended the regular season with back-to-back shutout wins. Mackenzie Arnold made three saves for the clean sheet.

Houston (8-12-6, 30 points) was unable to build on a shutout victory over Kansas City from the Dash's previous match.

Chicago Stars 2, Angel City 1

Ally Schlegel scored deep into extra time for the winning tally at Bridgeview, Ill.

The Stars (3-12-11, 20 points), who won for the first time since Sept. 7, received a second-half goal from Jameese Joseph to tie the match.

Miyabi Moriya scored in the 23rd minute for Angel City (7-13-6, 27 points).

--Field Level Media