Carolina Ascent’s Sydney Martinez continues to shine; Brooklyn’s fast start knocks Sporting JAX from ranks of undefeated
There’s a new league-leader in the Gainbridge Super League this week after Carolina Ascent FC gained a little revenge on Lexington SC in their Final rematch on Monday night before Sporting Club Jacksonville was knocked from the ranks of the undefeated by a remarkable Brooklyn FC performance.
Add home wins for both Tampa Bay Sun FC and Dallas Trinity FC and the playoff race is already looking intriguing. Here are four things we took away from the weekend.
1. Carolina Ascent’s Sydney Martinez is Showing Why Hope Hisey’s her Back-Up
There was clearly going to be a competition for the No. 1 jersey at Carolina Ascent FC this preseason as two-time Goalkeeper of the Year Hope Hisey joined returning Sydney Martinez in the club’s locker room, but so far this campaign Martinez is showing why she has gotten the nod so far from Head Coach Philip Poole.
On Friday night, Martinez’s five-save shutout against Lexington SC was the key performance for the visitors as they claimed a late 1-0 win via Jenna Butler’s set piece winner – which bore more than a passing resemblance to Regan Steigleder’s for LSC in May’s Final – with the Puerto Rico international making key saves on Hannah White, Sarah Griffith and Addie McCain in the second half to preserve the shutout.
Martinez’s form this season has been a continuation of how well she’s been playing this calendar year. Since January 1, the 27-year-old leads Super League goalkeepers with 71 saves, a save percentage of 87.5%, 11 shutouts and a Goals Prevented mark of -11.07. It’s a remarkable run and illustrates why she’s Carolina’s No. 1.
2. Brooklyn FC Caught Sporting Club Jacksonville Cold
One of the more jarring statistics in the 2025/26 Super League season was Brooklyn’s slow starts to games. Across the 28-game campaign, BKFC scored only twice in the opening 15 minutes of games, and five times in the first half overall, which left the side regularly chasing the game.
On Sunday afternoon, Brooklyn matched its goal total in the opening 15 minutes from a season ago in a single game as Catherine Zimmerman and Tziarra King both found the net in the opening 10 minutes, catching undefeated Sporting Club Jacksonville cold on the way to a 3-2 victory that’s the biggest surprise of the season so far. Building down the right side on both goals, Zimmerman outdueled her marker before putting home a good finish before a shift across the field gave King time and space to quickly make it two.
Sporting JAX responded with Baylee DeSmit, but BKFC goalkeeper Bre Norris did her part in a five-save display to ensure the hosts’ lead would hold up. After a tough start to the campaign, getting a first win on the board is huge for Head Coach Alex Smith and his squad as they try to fight back toward the playoff line.
3. Tampa Bay Sun FC was Ready to Go after Second-Half Delay
Tampa Bay Sun FC was already building momentum as it looked to fight back from a halftime deficit against Fort Lauderdale United FC in its home opener on Saturday night when a lighting stanchion went dark, causing a pause in the game. A little over 40 minutes later after normal service resumed, the hosts didn’t need any time to pick up where they left off.
Coming on as a substitute after the delay, Tori Zierenberg’s goal scored just 95 seconds later got the Sun level before Shea Connors’ winner with nine minutes to go earned the side its first home-opener win in club history, and a second consecutive victory to move above the playoff line as Connors’ bright start to the season continued with her third goal in four games.
Having won only once on home turf a season ago, Tampa Bay needed to get out to a good start before its home fans this season. While Fort Lauderdale held the lead for the first time in the series since March 8, 2025 on Sh’nia Gordon’s first-half finish, there was more than enough here for the Sun to turn the game around and look dangerous moving forward.
4. Youngsters Impress as Dallas Trinity Presses On
Coming in on loan from Bay FC for the fall, there was a spotlight on Onyeka Gamero as one of the notable young players who could be a contributor for Dallas Trinity FC over the campaign. With her second goal in as many games on Sunday night – a sharply-taken finish that put the hosts ahead against DC Power FC at the Cotton Bowl – the 20-year-old delivered another good display that saw her lead the team with four shots and six touches inside the penalty area.
There was another surprising youngster that also made an impact for Trinity as it took a 2-1 win against the Power, however, with 17-year-old center back Meila Brewer putting together a positive display in her Super League debut. The U.S. youth international might have been harshly credited with an own goal as she attempted to make a goal-line clearance on a header by DC’s Alyssa Walker, but aside from that held her own against a good Power attack.
Brewer won 8 of 8 duels – including 2 of 2 aerial duels – and 2 of 3 tackles while also logging three clearances and three recoveries as she slotted in beside experienced Argentine international Sophia Braun. The veteran was full of praise for Brewer’s display, with the youngster reportedly set to be part of the United States’ squad at next month’s FIFA U-17 World Cup.
“She did amazing,” said Braun. “She’s so confident and so young, which is awesome to see, but she did really well. I’m proud of her.”