Two matches last week, four this week. Why not?

Impact

Last week’s matches were a couple of interesting results, though one was slightly more expected. Tampa Bay Sun’s win, I mean draw, on the road at Brooklyn FC, 2-2. It was a tight battle and Brooklyn looked every bit like it was on its way back to winning, but instead, Natasha Flint had a game. The second of her brace came at the absolute death and plucked a point away from a club that desperately needed three. However, as much as Brooklyn needed three, Tampa is in the same boat. Currently sitting in 5th, Sun needs to get back into playoff position and has to find wins. For her part, Flint has delivered since arriving with the team and is now 4th in the golden boot race with 8.

Golden Boots

Addie McCain has been at the top of the golden boot race for what seems like forever, but since scoring against Lexington SC on February 22, she’s been sitting on 9 goals. In that time, two challengers have climbed the ranks. Mia Corbin, for Carolina Ascent, has been a house on fire for her club and has clearly been both the beneficiary and primary driver of the team’s focus on scoring in the second half. The other head of the golden hydra is Allie Thornton, who has been a key part of the Dallas Trinity attack. Hard not to give the edge to the two challengers, as it feels like Ft Lauderdale United has changed their approach and it’s costing McCain chances. The other two are the focuses of their teams’ attack plans and that’s going to pay dividends as the season progresses.

A HC for Sporting JAX

The forthcoming expansion team in Jacksonville, Sporting JAX, has named its first head coach. The team named Stacey Balaam as their first head coach, Balaam played as a professional in the W-League, winning a championship in 2011 with the Atlanta Silverbacks. She has also coached in college soccer, most recently with Vanderbilt. In the press release, she gave her vision for the team she’ll lead:

“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve as the first head coach of Sporting JAX’s USL Super League Team,” said Balaam. “The club has a clear ambition to not only provide opportunities for professional soccer careers but also to invest in developing young female talent at the academy level. The pathway that the club is building for aspiring players is something I deeply believe in and I look forward to contributing to that vision. My goal is to cultivate an enjoyable, competitive and healthy environment where our talented squad can reach their full potential every day. We will strive for success in the inaugural season, set ambitious goals and grow together as a team that represents Jacksonville with pride and passion.”

We’ll see how the team is put together by the leadership team at JAX. I’ve already reached out for an interview.

- Dan Vaughn