Copper Queens captain Barbra Banda scored yet again as Orlando Pride (5-0-3, 18 points) won the battle of the unbeatens, defeating Racing Louisville FC (1-1-5, 8 points) 1-0 at Inter&Co Stadium.

Banda scored her fourth goal in three games and the Pride held onto the lead for 73 minutes. Banda scored in the 17th minute after an excellent delivery from defender Emily Sams, who played as a right back for the second consecutive match.

Sams made a forward run into the box and placed the ball right in the path of the oncoming Banda, who headed it in.

Banda had a chance in the 12th minute to give the Pride the lead when Lemos won the ball back from Kayla Fischer. The midfielder sent it forward for Banda whose third touch was a shot from outside of the box. Lund went down to block the attempt away, but it didn’t appear to give the goalkeeper too much trouble.

The Pride finally broke through in the 17th minute and from a familiar source. It started with a give-and-go between McCutcheon and Sams on the right side. The defender took a touch towards the end line and sent a cross to the back post, where Banda, despite being among the most threatening strikers in the league, was wide open.

It was an easy header for the Zambian, who gave the Pride the early lead. It was Banda’s fourth goal in the last three games, which sees her surpass Yates as the team leader. The cross by Sams resulted in her first professional assist in her second season.