The Tampa Bay Sun is facing a tough stretch, with consecutive multi-goal losses beginning to weigh heavily on the team. Their recent outing against Brooklyn FC resulted in a decisive 3-0 defeat, marking the second time in just two weeks that the Sun has conceded three goals.
The match remained scoreless through the first half, but Brooklyn FC ignited their offense in the second. Catherine Zimmerman broke the deadlock in the 47th minute, converting a pass from Rebecca Cooke to put Brooklyn ahead 1-0. The momentum continued to swing in Brooklyn’s favor when Hope Breslin extended their lead to 2-0 in the 59th minute. Zimmerman sealed the victory for Brooklyn, who now hold a 4-6-5 record, by scoring her second goal of the game in the 71st minute, finalizing the score at 3-0.
Head coach Denise Schilte-Brown did not shy away from expressing her disappointment following the match. “This is the bottom,” she stated candidly, reflecting the grim sentiment within the team. “There’s a bad f—ing feeling.” Schilte-Brown identified mental lapses as a significant contributing factor to the loss.
“We literally gave them opportunities,” Schilte-Brown remarked, highlighting instances where the team’s own errors created openings for the opposition. “We have to find consistency and be a little sharper in those moments. … Goals are momentum changers. The final third can shift a game, but we also can’t make the errors we’ve been making.”
Despite the discouraging result, players on the Sun are striving to maintain a positive outlook and foster team cohesion. Captain Jordyn Listro emphasized the critical need for unity and resilience. “We haven’t had the best results, but we’ve had glimpses of good performance,” Listro commented on her team’s current standing, which sees them last in the Super League. “We have to stick together, not turn on each other, stay positive and have each other’s backs for the full 90 minutes.”
Statistically, the two teams were closely matched in many categories. Brooklyn FC held a slight advantage in total shots, with 13 to Tampa Bay’s 11. However, Brooklyn demonstrated significantly better shooting accuracy, converting 53.8% of their attempts compared to the Sun’s 18.2%.
Listro also touched upon the team’s offensive challenges, underscoring how early scoring opportunities can dramatically alter the course of a game. She stressed the importance of midfield control and dictating the tempo of play. “We’re very technical players. We have to want to get on the ball and bring our game to the other team instead of letting them dictate the tempo,” Listro explained. “If we can get on the ball early, move like we usually do, and be creative in the final third, we’ll be successful.”
Defender Brooke Hendrix acknowledged the team’s recent struggles, referencing the identical 3-0 loss to Jacksonville the previous week. Nevertheless, she expressed optimism based on the positive moments the team has shown. “We’re seeing moments of greatness and togetherness, and then other moments where we’re disconnected,” she observed. “We need to make those good moments more consistent across a full game.”
Hendrix also stressed the collective responsibility for defensive performance. “Defensively, it’s on all of us,” she asserted. “Not just the back line or one person. As a team, we have to defend together and keep the ball out of the net. … We need to create our own energy. Celebrate a big block, a great pass, a shot. When you celebrate those moments, they become normal, and you want to do it again.”
Looking ahead, Coach Schilte-Brown reiterated the necessity of team unity and the diligent elimination of minor errors. “It’s about rising together, feeling like we don’t want to feel this way anymore and putting our chances away,” she concluded, emphasizing the team’s collective desire for improvement and success.