On a windy and overcast night at Maimonides Park, Brooklyn FC once again demonstrated the resilience that defines their early Super League campaign. Despite trailing twice to defending champions Tampa Bay Sun, the home side fought back to earn a 2–2 draw. The result lifts Brooklyn to seventh place in the Gainbridge Super League standings and preserves their unbeaten record against the Florida club.
Head coach Tomás Tengarrinha lined his team up in a 3-5-2 that emphasized control through the midfield. The back three of Leah Scarpelli, Nayeong Shin, and Samantha Rosette maintained a high defensive line that repeatedly caught Tampa Bay attackers offside. Wingbacks Jordan Thompson and Alice Barbieri pushed forward to provide width, while Hope Breslin, Emma Loving, and Jessica Garziano dictated tempo. Garziano, returning to the starting lineup, looked sharp as she orchestrated possession and delivered several dangerous set pieces, and proved to be Brooklyn's Player of the Match.
Tampa Bay head coach Denise Schilte-Brown used a 4-3-3 led by Tash Flint, McKenzie Pluck, and Kelsey Tankersley. The visitors pressed high and looked to exploit space behind Brooklyn’s wingbacks. In the 26th minute, Tankersley and Vivian Bessette were both booked for fouls as the Sun’s aggressive play disrupted Brooklyn’s rhythm.
A key moment arrived midway through the first half when referee Michael Frisk enforced the league’s new eight-second goalkeeper rule, signaling a violation against Brooklyn's Kelsey Daugherty. Under this rule, a goalkeeper must release the ball within eight seconds after gaining control or conceding a corner kick to the opponent, with referees visibly counting the final seconds to prevent time-wasting. Daugherty’s infraction was the first against Brooklyn this season.
Tampa Bay opened the scoring in the 38th minute when Flint drifted into space and finished from close range. Brooklyn equalized in the 61st minute through striker Rebecca Cooke, who drove into the box and placed a low shot inside the right post. Tankersley restored the Sun’s lead in the 80th minute. But Brooklyn provided the final moment of drama in the game, when a free kick allowed Garziano to send a curling cross into the box that found Catherine Zimmerman, who headed home the equalizer.
Jessica Garziano delivers a delicious cross to Catherine Zimmerman | Courtesy Gainbridge Super League
Brooklyn finished with 41 percent possession but displayed maturity in transition and confidence under pressure. Brooklyn now sit in 7th Place with a record of 1W-4D-3L, climbing above idle DC Power. Tampa Bay are stuck in 9th Place with just four points after seven games, and remain winless against Brooklyn FC over two seasons.
