Brooklyn FC vs. Sporting JAX
Venue: Maimonides Park; Brooklyn, NY
Kickoff: Saturday, October 4, 6:00 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear, 71°
Broadcast: Peacocktv.com
Things to Know
- Brooklyn FC (1-3-2) enters the match following a 1-2 defeat to Fort Lauderdale United, while Sporting JAX (2-2-1) comes in off the back of their second win of the season, 4-3 over Carolina Ascent.
- This is the first-ever meeting between these two teams.
- Both teams are still in search of their first clean sheet of the season.
- Grace Phillpotts (JAX) will face off against her former team for the first time since joining Jacksonville this summer. Phillpotts recorded a goal and an assist in her six appearances with Brooklyn last season.
- Jordan Thompson (BKN) will face off against her former Gonzaga teammate Maddie Kemp (JAX).
- Emily Pringle (BKN) will face off against her former University of Pennsylvania teammate Paige Kenton (JAX).
Players to Watch
BKN– Jess Garziano: The Long Island native is one of Brooklyn’s top playmakers, leading her side this season in crosses (27), chances created (6), and assists (2).
JAX– Paige Kenton: The University of Delaware alum has started every match this season and provides a steady presence in the backline, while also getting into the attack. Last weekend, she recorded an assist and scored the game-winner in the 4-3 victory over Carolina Ascent.
| Brooklyn FC | Sporting JAX | |
| Head Coach | Tomás Tengarrinha | Stacey Balaam |
| Record | 1-3-2 | 2-2-1 |
| Standings | 7th | 5th |
Carolina Ascent FC vs. DC Power FC
Venue: American Legion Memorial Stadium; Charlotte, NC
Kickoff: Saturday, October 4, 7:00 p.m. ET
Weather: Cloudy, 68°
Broadcast: Peacocktv.com
Things to Know
- Carolina Ascent FC (0-2-3) has not won a match yet this season, coming into this weekend on the back of a 3-4 defeat to expansion side Sporting JAX. DC Power FC (1-0-3) is back in action this week after having Matchweek 6 off.
- Carolina has never lost to DC Power and holds a 3-0-1 record after last season. The Ascent won 1-0 the last time they met, with Sarah Troccoli scoring the game-winner. Troccoli has scored in her last two matches against DC.
- Carolina is still searching for its first clean sheet of the season.
- Jaydah Bedoya (DC) will play against her former team for the first time since joining DC this summer. Bedoya recorded three goals and an assist in 22 appearances with Carolina last season.
- Emily Morris (CAR) will face off against her former Wake Forest teammate Emily Colton (DC).
Players to Watch
CAR– Rylee Baisden: The forward spurred the comeback attempt for Carolina last weekend, scoring her first goal of the season before halftime to bring the Ascent back into the match.
DC– Loza Abera: The Ethiopian international is a proven goal scorer and versatile finisher that will be a challenge for Carolina’s defense. She recorded her first goal of the season in DC’s last match, a one-touch blast to the upper right corner in the 2-2 draw.
| Carolina Ascent FC | DC Power FC | |
| Head Coach | Phillip Poole | Omid Namazi |
| Record | 0-2-3 | 1-0-3 |
| Standings | 8th | 6th |
Tampa Bay Sun FC vs. Fort Lauderdale United FC
Venue: Suncoast Credit Union Field; Tampa, FL
Kickoff: Saturday, October 4, 7:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Scattered showers, 76°
Broadcast: Peacocktv.com
Things to Know
- Tampa Bay Sun FC (0-3-2) returns to action after having Matchweek 6 off. Fort Lauderdale United FC (3-0-2) remains undefeated so far this season, entering the match on the back of their third-consecutive win, 2-1 over Brooklyn FC.
- This will be a rematch of last season’s Final, where Tampa Bay won 1-0 after extra time to earn the first league title.
- Tampa Bay has never lost to Fort Lauderdale, holding a 2-0-3 record through the regular and postseason. Both of the two wins were at home. In their last regular season meeting, the Sun won 2-0 behind goals from Jordyn Listro and Ava Tankersley.
- Tampa Bay is still searching for its first clean sheet of the season.
- Sabrina McNeill (TB) will face her former team for the first time since joining Tampa Bay this summer. McNeill recorded a goal and an assist in 15 appearances on Fort Lauderdale’s backline last season.
- Mackenzie Pluck (TB) will face off against her former Duke teammate Lily Nabet (FTL).
Players to Watch
TB – Sabrina McNeill: McNeill will be on the other side of the Florida Derby on Saturday, facing off against her former club for the first time. The outside back continues to be a threat on both sides of the of ball, already recorded two assists this season along with 15 clearances and 21 duels won.
FTL– Kiara Locklear: Leading the attack for Fort Lauderdale, the forward became the club’s all-time leading goal scorer last weekend when she slotted home the game-winner on the road against Brooklyn, her eleventh goal for the club across two seasons.
| Tampa Bay Sun FC | Fort Lauderdale United FC | |
| Head Coach | Denise Schilte Brown | Ali Rogers |
| Record | 0-3-2 | 3-0-2 |
| Standings | 9th | 1st |
Spokane Zephyr FC vs. Lexington SC
Venue: ONE Spokane Stadium; Spokane, WA
Kickoff: Saturday, October 4, 9:00 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear, 52°
Broadcast: Peacocktv.com
Things to Know
- Both teams enter this weekend on the back of wins last week, with Spokane Zephyr FC (2-2-3) earning its third-consecutive clean sheet last Wednesday, with a 1-0 win over Carolina Ascent and Lexington SC (2-0-3) routing Dallas Trinity with a 6-1 win.
- Both Catherine Barry and Addie McCain scored braces in Lexington’s six-goal win last weekend.
- Spokane holds a 2-1-2 record all-time against Lexington. The sides most recently played to a scoreless draw in Lexington on September 20.
- Emina Ekić, Taylor Aylmer, McKenzie Weinert and Alyssa Bourgeois will return to Spokane for the first time since competing with the Zephyr last season.
- Both goalkeepers Hope Hisey and Kat Asman lead the league with three clean sheets each. A clean sheet for Hisey on Saturday would tie her record set last season for most consecutive matches with a shutout (4).
Players to Watch
SPK– Sophia Braun: The former Gonzaga Bulldog is a key playmaker for her side, leading Spokane in both chances created (10) and crosses (24).
LEX– Sarah Griffith: The summer signing has cemented her role in creating Lexington’s attacks, ranked second for her side in chances created (7) and tied for most assists in the league (2).
| Spokane Zephyr FC | Lexington SC | |
| Head Coach | Josh McAllister (interim) | Masaki Hemmi |
| Record | 2-2-3 | 2-0-3 |
| Standings | 4th | 3rd |