Super League Sync
Dallas 6 - 2 Lexington SC
Battle of the t-shirts in this one and while the jerseys left plenty of room for improvement (I just don’t like the white t-shirt of Lexington’s road and don’t get me started on Trinity’s big maroon t-shirt look), the scoring came quick and kept coming all match.
Lexington scored first, with Kailey Utley pushing past her defender and drilling it off a defender and into the net with her left foot in the 10th minute. But Allie Thornton would find the equalizer for Dallas with a spectacular header just 20 minutes later. Amber Brooks would add a second for Trinity just before half with a spectacular shot from way outside. Goalkeeper couldn’t get to the perfectly placed ball in the top far corner.
While 2-1 would be a fine way to end the match for Dallas, the second half would bring another 5 goals. Trinity got goals from Ubogagu (2), Thornton’s second and third (first-ever Super League hat trick, while Lexington’s Madison Parsons got one of her own.
While the crowd looked sparse in the very large Cotton Bowl, the play on the field was stellar. Dallas Trinity has the best attack in the Super League and it isn’t close.
Tampa Bay Sun 0 - 1 Brooklyn FC
Brooklyn came into this match off a late penalty shot earned them a point in their season opener. And after Tampa’s big win last week on the road at Lexington, it felt like Tampa’s time to shine at home against a Brooklyn squad still getting its feet under themselves. But it just wasn’t the Sun’s night.
Isabel Cox scored for Brooklyn on a beautiful bit of solo play up the left side early in the first half, beating her defender and Tampa goalkeeper Ashley Orkus. And that goal would be enough to get three points on the road. While Tampa had chances and kept the pressure up throughout the match, including a gorgeous bit of play that ended coming off the crossbar, none of the shots found the back of the net. It was a snake bit evening for an offense that looks very capable of scoring bags of goals (as my old friend Dan Creel would say, “they looked dangerous”).
Spokane Zephyr 0 - 2 Carolina Ascent
The big dogs of the league keep eating, even when they visit someone else’s house.
Two first half goals from Carolina were enough to secure the three points on the road. The first, from Mia Corbin, came off a beautiful bit of work down the left side. With pressure up on Zephyr, the home side turned the ball over and a quick pass cut through the line, releasing Corbin for a one-on-one against the keeper. Corbin slotted it past for the opening goal. The second came just before half off a corner kick. The inswinging corner found the head of Sydney Studer, who put it just past the keeper’s dive. The two scores held up in the second half and Carolina can head to their next stop with 3 points.
Carolina looks every bit the front-runner and is so far undefeated. They are cruising and lapping the rest of the league. Next week they face Lexington at home, a team that can score, but struggles to keep the ball out of the net.
DC Power 0 - 2 Ft. Lauderdale FC
DC’s home opener didn’t go to script, though one team did get its first win of the season.
Plenty of chances for the home side thanks to its high press. It was giving fits for Ft. Lauderdale United early on. Jorian Baucom put one off the post in the 6th minute and it felt like DC was set to give the home crowd what they were looking for. Of course, FTL had other ideas and scored in 8th minute off a set piece. After a long cross that went out of the box, Cameron Brooks gathered it out on the wing and fired a rocket that went off the hip of Addie McCain and into the net. It was McCain’s first professional goal and gave the visitor’s the upper hand early on.
Can I pause for a second to talk about one of my favorite players in the league? Katie Duwong is a former star for Minnesota Aurora and now plays for DC Power. She would be the MVP of facial expressions if that award existed. Absolutely brimming with positivity and has that “I’m so pumped to be here” vibe.
But the second goal for FTL would come in the 38th minute when Ishata Jasmine Hamid would score on a spectacular bit of work up the left side. After getting her shoulder past the defender in the box, she put her shot past the charging keeper’s head and into the top of the net. Beautiful stuff from the DMV product. She came home and delivered for her squad. That goal would be the insurance goal (not needed) for FTL UTD and they get their first win as a club in the Super League while DC Power remains winless.
From the Audience
We’ve seen all the shirts at this point, which are the best? - JD
I think Brooklyn’s home and away really appeal to my sense of style (including the Liquid Death sponsorship). Black and white (cream?) pinstripe, say less. Carolina’s is fun because it pushes the envelope and its pretty, but it’s not my style. Lastly, I’d take Spokane’s black home kit, looks super tough (Tampa’s blue and gold is a close 4th).
I know you love goal differential the most, but what other stat stands out, 4 weeks in? - TJ
Ha! Yeah, I do love me some goal differential, no doubt, but I guess if I’m trying to answer your question, I’d say the number of yellows that Tampa Bay Sun has racked up - 12 yellow cards in four matches. League leaders in that stat, currently. Every team plays their own style, of course, but Tampa is clearly taking the rough approach to defending. On the other end, Ft. Lauderdale has a single yellow in three matches played. Still no red cards in the Super League.
Top Three (Power Rankings)
Carolina Ascent - Carolina has double the points of second place Trinity, tied for best goal differential in the league, back-to-back wins. All signs say Carolina is the best in the Super League
Dallas Trinity - I know people think we’re Dallas homers on the Super Show, but 6 goals has to count for something. The team is undefeated and has the most complete offense in the league.
Brooklyn FC - Call me crazy, and I’m sure Tampa would, but Brooklyn is coming on strong. 4 points from two tough road wins, I feel the buzz from Brooklyn. Let’s see how they do this week against Ft. Lauderdale.
- Dan Vaughn
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