Match Day 2 is in the books for six of the eight Gainbridge Super League teams. Debuting with our review of those matches will be Northland Soccer’s GSL Game of the Week. Matches featured as the GOTW will get extra coverage, including a match preview, live skeet it on Northland’s Women’s Soccer Bluesky account, and a full recap after the final whistle. We’ll announce the first official GOTW below.
Week 2 Recap
Brooklyn FC 1 - 4 DC Power
Over their short history, DC has enjoyed facing off against Brooklyn on Coney Island. All three of DC’s wins against Brooklyn have come on the road. DC wasted no time getting off on the right foot in their latest visit to New York. In the 6th minute, Kayla Colbert carried the ball down DC’s right wing and played give-and-go with Emily Colton before passing the ball into the center of the box. New DC addition Emma Jaskaniec put it in the back of the net to open up scoring. Less than two minutes later, DC doubled their lead when Abby Boyan played a ball into Brooklyn's 18 the ended up at the feet of Loza Abera. Working a bit of magic, Abera combined a spin with a pullback the ball move to free up space at the top of the box and then uncorked a laser that Brooklyn keeper Breanna Norris had no chance on. Following the second goal, DC remained ascendent. In the 10th minute, only desperate defending by Brooklyn kept the deficit at two after Tatum Thomason hit the post and the rebound rolled across the open goalmouth. After surviving the initial onslaught from DC, Brooklyn slowly began to find their footing.
The second half started more evenly with both teams finding opportunities on goal. Disaster struck again for Brooklyn in the 60th minute when defender Shin Na-Yeong turned over the ball at the edge of her 18 yard box while attempting to build an attack out of the back. Shin compounded the issue by taking DC's Kayla Colbert down in the box as she tried to drive in on goal. Tyler Lussi then converted from the spot to extend DC's lead to three goals. Brooklyn found some joy in the 75th minute when DC failed to clear a Jackie Richards's corner. The clearance attempt only made it as far as the arc, where Tziarra King launched the ball back on frame, literally. After hitting off the crossbar, the ball took a high arcing path to Catherine Zimmerman, whose attempt to head the ball on goal landed instead at the feet of Jordan Thompson and ultimately ended up in the back of the net for Brooklyn's first goal of the season. The goal was not the beginning of a comeback for Brooklyn. Instead in the 83rd minute, Shin and Brooklyn's nightmare night continued when an Alyssa Walker cross hit of her extended arm. Loza Abera got Norris to go the wrong way and sealed the match giving DC their first win of the season. Brooklyn falls to 0-0-2 to start the season. DC, with the win are now 1-0-1.
Sporting Jax 3 - 2 Tampa Bay Sun 2
At the end 2025/2026 season, Baylee DeSmit and Ashlyn Puerta tied for the most goals on the inaugural Sport Jax team and in second in the Gainbridge Super League. Both players finished just one goal behind Lexington's Catherine Barry with 11. At the start of the 2026 Fall season, both DeSmit and Puerta continue to be talismans for Sporting Jax. DeSmit scored the lone goal in Jax 1-0 win over Fort Lauderdale on opening weekend. In Week 2, she bagged a brace and Puerta scored off the bench in their 3-2 victory. For Tampa Bay, Shea Connors opened up scoring in the 36th minute and Jordan Zade added a second in the 76th minute. Sporting Jax moves to 2-0-0 on the season, while the Sun fall to 0-1-1.
Dallas Trinity 1 - Carolina Ascent 3
After opening the season in DC, Carolina continued their two match road trip to start the season. The lack of home field advantage and the over 100 degree heat at kickoff didn't negatively impact the Ascent during their trip to the Cotton Bowl. Rylee Baisden scored for Carolina in the 23rd minute and Audrey Coleman doubled the lead shortly before the half. Jasmine Hamid pulled Dallas back within a goal in the second half, but Sydney Cheesman conceded an own goal to seal Carolina's second straight road win.
Week 3 Schedule
Friday, August 28
- Fort Lauderdale United vs Brooklyn FC - Beyond Bancard Field, Davie Florida - 7:30 PM ET/6:30 PM CT
Saturday August 29
- Lexington SC vs DC Power - Lexington SC Stadium, Lexington, Kentucky - 1 PM ET/12 PM CT
- Carolina Ascent vs Tampa Bay Sun - American Legion Memorial Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina - 7 PM ET/6 PM CT
- Sporting Jax vs Dallas Trinity - Hodges Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida - - 7 PM ET/6 PM CT
Northland Soccer Game of the Week - Sporting Jax and Dallas Trinity
Dallas and Sporting Jax entered the Fall 2026 with high ambitions. For Dallas, the first two weeks have not gone to plan. Dallas clinched the fourth and final playoff spot, but ultimately fell in the semifinals to Lexington 2-0. In the offseason the team was purchased by new ownership and brought in several players from NWSL rosters on loans. Entering Week 3, Trinity are looking for their first victory of the year after drawing against Tampa Bay on opening weekend and then falling at home to Carolina.
Sporting Jax finished their inaugural season tied on points with Lexington at the top of the table, but second based on tie breakers. The new season has been a continuation of the last as Sporting Jax has knocked off both of their in-state rivals on back-to-back weekends. Jax will look to continue their winning ways against a team they went 2-0-1 against last year.
All matches stream on Peacock.
