Spokane moves above playoff line for first time this season | News & Notes Week 32

REWIND: WEEK 31 NOTES

FTL 1 – 4 BKN

GOALS:
- Jess Garziano (BKN) 19’.
- Sh’Nia Gordon (FTL) 26’, Laurel Ansbrow assist.
- Caroline Kelly (BKN) 56’, Mackenzie George assist.
- Hope Breslin (BKN) 59’.
- Cameron Brooks (FTL) 61’, own goal.
STORYLINES:
- SNAPPED THE STREAK: Saturday marked Brooklyn’s first win of the spring, ending an 11-match winless streak.
- FOUR GOALS: The four goals scored were the most for Brooklyn in a single match.
- FIRSTS: Caroline Kelly and Hope Breslin both scored their first goals of the season.
- ASSISTS: Laurel Ansbrow recorded her second assist of the season, and Mackenzie George recorded her fifth.
QUOTES:
- Fort Lauderdale Head Coach Tyrone Mears:
  - On the result and moving forward… “This bye week is a chance to refocus. We created quality chances in the first half but need to be more clinical and finish those chances—goals change games. We’ve put ourselves in a tough spot, but we have the talent to rise above it.”
- Fort Lauderdale defender Julia Grosso:
  - On returning from injury and moving forward… “It felt amazing to be back, honestly, I’ve missed playing a lot. It’s been a long two months of training. I am really happy to be back, and I was really happy that it was a home match coming back in front of the fans. And moving forward, I just hope that we keep fighting, because we’re a really good team, and then for myself, just building confidence each game, just feeling more like myself again after my injury.”
- Brooklyn Interim Head Coach Kevin Tenjo:
  - On the team’s performance… “The players did an outstanding job tonight. What really stood out was their mentality and attitude—they approached the game with determination, personality, and a real hunger to win. It was a complete performance and a well-deserved result for the group. This win gives us important momentum, and we’ll look to build on it as we prepare for the final two home matches and make our push for the playoffs.”
- Brooklyn scorer Hope Breslin:
  - On the result and scoring her first goal… “We know there are only a few games left, so it’s now or never. The entire team has always had belief in each other & know we have what it takes to be successful. We have been training hard & it’s finally showing. I love playing with Sam (Kroeger) and Jess (Garziano) in the midfield, and think we all balance each other nicely. To score in the game tonight felt so good and was just a cherry on top of a great team win. Everyone showed up to play & win, & I’m so proud of us.”
- Brooklyn scorer Caroline Kelly:
  - On the result and scoring her first goal… “It was an awesome feeling; I obviously haven’t been here for very long, but with just everything the team has gone through, it meant a lot to get that win. I was just happy to get us that goal, and then we just ran with that momentum, quickly scoring two more. We have two games left in the season, but I think this helped us get our feet back under us. As a team, we are capable of whatever we put our minds to, and I think we showcased that tonight.”

SPK 2 – 0 LEX

GOALS:
- Emina Ekić (SPK) 11’, penalty.
- Ally Cook (SPK) 50’, Katie Murray assist.
STORYLINES:
- ON A ROLL: Spokane picked up its eighth win of the spring and moved above the playoff line for the first time this season.
- FROM THE SPOT: Emina Ekić leads the league with a perfect 4/4 from the penalty spot.
- GOALS: Ekić scored her eighth goal of the season, and Ally Cook scored her fourth.
- ASSIST: Katie Murray recorded her second assist of the season.
- CLEAN SHEET: Goalkeeper Hope Hisey tied for first in the league with her ninth clean sheet of the season.
QUOTES:
- Spokane Head Coach Jo Johnson:
  - On the team’s momentum… “We’ve had a great run, we’ve had a great push. We’ve still got three more games to finish it out. We control our destiny, so we just keep taking care of who’s in front of us, keep knocking them down, then we’re in that playoff hunt.”
- Spokane scorer Ally Cook:
  - On the team’s mindset going into the final stretch of the season… “We don’t want to leave it up to anybody else. We want to control our future. We need to win the next three games—plain and simple. You don’t look ahead. You don’t look at other teams. It’s just: who’s next, and how are we going to win?”
- Lexington Interim Head Coach Sam Stockley:
  - On the result… “Credit to Spokane for taking their chances early, but I was proud of the fight our players showed, especially in the second half. We created good moments and kept pressing until the final whistle.”
- Lexington goalkeeper Sarah Cox:
  - On her performance… “As a goalkeeper, you always want to give your team a chance, and I was just doing my job. We never stopped pushing, and I’m proud of how we stayed together as a unit tonight.”

TB 1 – 0 DAL

GOALS:
- Hannah Keane (TB) 13’.
STORYLINES:
- FIRST WIN: Tampa Bay earned its first win of the season against Dallas. It was previously 0-1-2 against the Trinity.
- SECOND: Hannah Keane scored her second goal of the season.
- RED CARD: Tampa Bay captain Jordyn Listro was issued a red card in the 25’ for serious foul play. It was the first time a straight red was issued in a match this season and resulted in the Sun playing with 10 players for the rest of the match.
- CLEAN SHEET: Sydney Schneider made four saves to earn her first clean sheet in her second appearance with the Sun.
QUOTES:
- Tampa Bay scorer Hannah Keane:
  - On scoring the lone goal… “It was mostly one-on-one for us forwards, and so we just tried to take opportunities that were given to us. And we did on one, and that’s good enough—that’s all you need—so, I’m happy about that.”
- Tampa Bay goalkeeper Sydney Schneider:
  - On playing with 10 players after the red card… “It’s not the best situation, you don’t want that—but, at the same time, I have confidence in the people in front of me, and I hope they have confidence in me that we can—no matter what minute—play a man down, and just be disciplined, believe in each other, and that’s what we did. We needed those three points—to pull that out—and, being a player down, just shows what we can do.”
- Dallas Head Coach Pauline MacDonald:
  - On the quick turnaround before their next match… “I think that sometimes the best way to bounce back is to be able to do it really, really quickly. We have that opportunity, which is fortunate and sits in our favor right now. It’s about rest, recover, refuel, evaluate and go again.”
- Dallas forward Cyera Hintzen:
  - On moving forward after the loss… “We just have to put this game behind us. We all know that we’re disappointed with how we came out and how we played tonight. However, we also know that’s not who we are. We need to come out with a fresh start, and I think we’ll be in a good situation come Thursday.”

WEEK 32 SCHEDULE

Thursday, May 8th
DC Power FC v Dallas Trinity FC, 7 p.m. ET
Saturday, May 10th
Brooklyn FC v Spokane Zephyr FC, 6 p.m. ET
Lexington SC v Tampa Bay Sun FC, 7 p.m. ET

WEEK 32 STORYLINES

PLAYOFF PICTURE
Carolina Ascent is the only team to secure a spot in the 2024/25 Super League Playoffs. The team has an opportunity to claim a top-two spot and earn home field advantage in the semi-finals this week if Lexington wins against Tampa Bay Sun.

With teams 2^nd-6^th all within six points of each other, the final three spots are anyone’s game and likely will not be determined until the final week of the regular season.

Additionally, Brooklyn would be eliminated from playoff contention this week if it loses to Spokane and if Tampa Bay wins against Lexington.

2025/26 SCHEDULE
The USL Super League unveiled this week the 2025/26 schedule for its first season as the Gainbridge Super League. A full slate of can’t-miss matchups kicks off Saturday, August 23, headlined by Sporting Jax’s highly anticipated home opener. The regular season will run through May 16, followed by a four-team playoff culminating in The Final the weekend of May 30.

View the full schedule here.

100^th SUPER LEAGUE MATCH
Thursday’s matchup between DC Power FC and Dallas Trinity FC will be the Super League’s 100^th match of the inaugural season.

WEEK 32 DISCIPLINE REPORT

TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the USL Super League’s discipline report for Week 32 of the 2024/25 USL Super League season:

Tampa Bay Sun FC’s Jordyn Listro has been suspended for one game following her red card for serious foul play against Dallas Trinity FC on May 4. Listro will be unavailable for selection in Tampa Bay’s contest against Lexington SC on Saturday night.

Additionally, the following player enters the upcoming matches one caution away from their eighth yellow card of the season and a one-game suspension for caution accumulation.

– DC Power FC (1): Claire Constant

LEAGUE LEADERS – WEEK 32

GOALS:

Mia Corbin (CAR) – 12 goals
Allie Thornton (DAL) – 11 goals
Addie McCain (FTL) – 10 goals
Natasha Flint (TB) – 9 goals
Jasmine Hamid (FTL) – 9 goals
Cecilie Fløe Nielsen (TB) – 8 goals
Emina Ekić (SPK) – 8 goals
Carlee Giammona (TB) – 7 goals

ASSISTS:

Jill Aguilera (CAR) – 6 assists
Emina Ekić (SPK) – 6 assists
Madison Perez (LEX) – 5 assists
Madi Parsons (LEX) – 5 assists
Chioma Ubogagu (DAL) – 5 assists
Shea Moyer (LEX) – 5 assists
Audrey Harding (CAR) – 5 assists
Mackenzie George (BKN) – 5 assists
Mackenzie Pluck (BKN) – 4 assists
Taylor Porter (CAR) – 4 assists
Kiara Locklear (FTL) – 4 assists

CLEAN SHEETS:

Madison White (DAL) – 9 clean sheets
Hope Hisey (SPK) – 9 clean sheets
Meagan McClelland (CAR) – 6 clean sheets
Cosette Morche (FTL) – 5 clean sheets
Samantha Leshnak Murphy (CAR) – 5 clean sheets
Ashley Orkus (TB) – 5 clean sheets
Morgan Aquino (DC) – 5 clean sheets