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In Louisville on Saturday, Racing midfielder Savannah DeMelo played in a National Women\u2019s Soccer League<\/a> match for the first time since September 14, 2025. DeMelo\u2019s year-long absence followed her going into cardiac arrest during a game in Seattle<\/a> and being taken to a local hospital, where an \u201cundiagnosed cardiac arrhythmia\u201d was discovered. <\/p>\n She subbed in for Louisville in the first minute of stoppage time when her team led the Utah Royals 1-0, but the visitors equalized five minutes later. The U.S. midfielder admitted after the game that she was nervous coming in, but excitement was the overriding emotion after the final whistle.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve really been anticipating this moment, and I was just really excited to be able to do it here [in Louisville],\u201d DeMelo said. \u201cObviously, wish we could have pulled out the three points, but I think that was the best the team has looked in a while, and I think we should be proud of that performance. But it definitely was a surreal moment being able to step back onto the pitch because there were some times I didn\u2019t know if I was going to be able to do that again.\u201d<\/p>\n DeMelo\u2019s joy for her long-awaited return was evident in the beaming smile on her face as she jogged onto the pitch to the standing ovation of her home fans.<\/p>\n \u201cJust to see that support and just to know that the people, even though it\u2019s been a year, still support me and still are excited to see me really means a lot and gives me a lot of confidence,\u201d DeMelo said.<\/p>\n Racing head coach Bev Yanez, like DeMelo, was disappointed with conceding a last-minute equalizer, but said that DeMelo\u2019s return was bigger than football.<\/p>\n \u201cSav\u2019s return tonight was something so special. To be here on the sideline when she entered, the amount of chills and tears that came to my eyes \u2026 we\u2019re all just so happy for her,\u201d Yanez said. \u201cWhat a joyous moment for her to come back on the pitch, for the crowd to get that loud \u2014 I know it\u2019s something she\u2019ll remember forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
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