Slow start sinks Sporting Jax: Formerly-winless Brooklyn FC netted two goals shortly after kickoff and denied a late comeback bid, upsetting Sporting Club Jacksonville 3-2 in Gainbridge Super League women's soccer on Sept. 14 at Maimonides Park in New York.
A New York minute, times 10: Brooklyn (1-4-0) scored five minutes in when Catherine Zimmerman outraced Sporting Jax's defense to a long ball and finished past goalkeeper Kaitlyn Parks, and doubled the lead in the 10th minute when a wide-open Tziarra King broke in down the left and scored from Jennifer Cudjoe's pass.
DeSmit on target again: League scoring leader Baylee DeSmit led the comeback for Sporting Jax (3-1-1), striking a volleyed goal in the 17th minute and setting up Paige Kenton from
close range in stoppage time.
Quick free kicks: Zimmerman scored her second of the game for Brooklyn in the 82nd minute, an insurance goal that proved crucial. … Sporting Jax lined up for the first time this season without central defender Georgia Brown, who had played all 360 minutes to date. … Brooklyn keeper Bre Norris made five saves. ... Coupled with Carolina Ascent FC's victory, the loss dropped Sporting Jax to second place in the eight-team league.
Up next: Sporting Jax next plays reigning champion Lexington SC at 5 p.m. Sept. 20 at the University of North Florida's Hodges Stadium.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Sporting Jax women denied against last-place Brooklyn
