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What comes next for Lexington and DC Power?

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Lexington SC and DC Power FC became the first two teams officially eliminated from contention for the 2025 USL Super League Playoffs following the results from Week 29. With a combined seven wins and minus-41 goal differential, both teams dealt with major challenges in their inaugural seasons. 

So, as they head into the final month of play and the offseason, what comes next for Lexington and DC? 

Close out the season strong 

With postseason play out of the picture, both teams should turn their focus to not finishing last. Lexington is in seventh place with 17 points, while DC has 16 points but with a game in hand. The two sides play against each other on the last day of the regular season with the potential to shake up their placement. 

They also can spend the next month playing spoiler to the remaining teams in the hunt for postseason spots. Lexington has remaining matches against Spokane and Fort Lauderdale, two teams it has previously beaten. DC will face all five teams placed 2-6 on the table, and with all its spring matches being decided by one goal or ending in draws, Power FC very well could steal some points. 

Bring in some new additions 

The roster moves each club makes this summer should create a completely different look for both teams. The storyline all season long for Lexington has been defense, or lack thereof. The Girls in Green are at 50 goals conceded and counting and have recorded just two clean sheets across the campaign. Lexington has tried various center back combinations this year and none have proven to be particularly successful. Bringing in experienced defenders should be a top priority for Lexington this offseason. 

The issue for DC has been on the other end of the field, where it has scored a league-fewest 15 goals. The scoring has improved this spring ever since bringing in striker Gianna Gourley; however, she is on loan and will return to Fort Lauderdale next season. Gourley has shown how desperately the team needed a No. 9, and finding a top-tier striker should be its first move come June. 

The good news is some of this offseason work has already begun. Both teams signed strong midfield options, like Nicole Vernis for Lexington and Emily Colton in DC, during the winter break. Filling in those missing pieces on offense and defense will be key for both teams to turn things around next season. 

Find the right Head Coach 

One similarity between both teams is that an interim head coach has been at the helm for a good portion of the season. Phil Nana has led DC since November, while Lexington’s Men’s Sporting Director Sam Stockley has filled in since the start of the spring. Both clubs announced they will look for permanent options after the season. 

While Nana and Stockley have a wealth of experience and spent years within the system at their respective clubs, neither team has made great leaps since they’ve taken over as head coaches. Bringing in someone new with a different perspective and fresh ideas can potentially provide clean slates and energize both teams’ locker rooms next season. 

Why Carolina vs Spokane is the biggest match of Week 29 

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Carolina Ascent FC is set to host Spokane Zephyr FC on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET in the final match of Week 29. Both teams are on undefeated runs, and the race to secure playoff spots is heating up. 

Here are three reasons why you should tune into the match this weekend: 

They are the two hottest teams in the league right now 

Saturday’s match should have a playoff atmosphere considering the form of both teams. In the Ascent’s last four matches, they’ve scored 13 goals and Samantha Leshnak Murphy has kept a clean sheet in each one. Zephyr has recorded seven goals in their last four matches, also all shutouts for goalkeeper Hope Hisey. 

And nearly all of these goals were exciting to watch. Carolina has a league-high 15 unique goal scorers like Jill Aguilera, who just scored a stunner from a set piece last week, and Jenna Butler, who has shown to be one of the biggest aerial threats in the league. Meanwhile, Spokane does so well at building out of the back, connecting one-touch passes up the field or using their speedy outside backs to take the ball up the flanks and send in crosses. The team’s first goal against Dallas last weekend started with a short goal kick and worked its way up to the opposite six-yard box to striker Ally Cook. 

Neither team has had to climb out of a deficit in months, so whoever is able to score first will likely be at a huge advantage. 

A sixth-place team can become a third-place team 

The Super League standings are so close, and teams change positions nearly every week. As of Thursday, second through sixth place in the standings are separated by just five points. All eight clubs are in action this weekend, creating a lot of possible scenarios for placement following the conclusion of Week 29. 

With Carolina vs. Spokane as the last match of the weekend, the other matchups will influence if Spokane can move above the playoff line or not. Brooklyn, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa Bay all sit tied at 33 points, so it’s in Spokane’s best interest that all three lose or at max, earn just one point with a draw. If Zephyr takes care of business and those results occur, the team will move to third place, its highest placement this season. 

A Carolina loss would make the rest of the season that much harder 

For the most part, Carolina has taken care of business this spring. The team has gone 6-2-1 since the return from break and is not far from clinching a playoff berth. However, its remaining schedule might be the toughest in the league. After Spokane on Saturday, the Ascent close the season against Fort Lauderdale, Tampa Bay, Brooklyn and Dallas, the four teams directly below them on the table. 

While it’s difficult to believe Carolina would lose out or drop below the playoff line, there is a possibility of it slipping a couple spots down the table, especially with a loss to Spokane. Carolina is one of the few that has a good shot at finishing in the top two, which would mean hosting at least one playoff match at American Legion Memorial Stadium. The Ascent has a 6-2-4 record there, making playing in front of its home crowd a huge advantage in the postseason. 

Tune in to the match this Saturday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m. only on Peacock. 

What we learned from Week 28 in the USL Super League 

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The playoff race is heating up, and every point counts for these Super League teams as they make a run for a top-four spot. 

Here are the three biggest takeaways from Week 28: 

Carolina is the team to beat, again 

Carolina Ascent is the definition of peaking at the right time. Whether it’s the 5-0 rout it produced against Brooklyn or the gritty 1-0 win it pulled out against DC, the Ascent find a way to earn results. The team has won its last four in a row, recording clean sheets in each contest, outscoring their opponents by 13 goals. 

The most impressive part is that those 13 goals came from nine different players. This squad has so much depth and chemistry, and it has found some consistency that has built momentum over the past month. With five matches left, the Ascent are back to being the team that was so formidable at the start of the fall. 

Is Dallas a contender or a pretender?

If you look at the standings and the stats, Dallas seems to be one of the best teams in the league. Multiple players can score, Madison White and the backline are an extremely tough defensive unit, and they have disciplined and experienced veterans like Chioma Ubogagu and Amber Brooks controlling the midfield. 

But if you look deeper and dissect their results from the spring, Trinity hasn’t really been as impressive as you would think for a No. 2 team. They’ve now lost twice to Spokane, who completely embarrassed Dallas’ defense last weekend, and the 3-0 loss to Carolina showed just how wide the gap is between the top two teams in the league. Dallas’ only wins have been against Lexington, DC and a struggling Brooklyn side that’s earned four points in its last nine matches. Dallas’ upcoming match against Fort Lauderdale will show if this team is truly a championship contender or just a playoff pretender. 

No. 4 will likely come down to Tampa Bay vs. Spokane 

 Let’s face it: with Brooklyn now in a three-way tie with Tampa Bay and Fort Lauderdale despite having played more matches than both and its recent overall form, a postseason berth does not appear to be in its future. FTL UTD, Carolina and Dallas are in the best shape to finish above the playoff line, and that means the final spot is going to fall to either Tampa Bay or Spokane. 

The Sun have six matches left this season compared to Zephyr’s seven, and you can make a good argument Spokane has the easier schedule of the two as they try to make up a five-point margin between the sides. The key game will be when they go head-to-head one final time this month at ONE Spokane Stadium. If that match goes anything like their last meeting, Zephyr might be able to sneak into that No. 4 spot. 

Who could be in line for the Super League’s inaugural End-of-Year Awards? 

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Only eight weeks remain in the Super League’s inaugural regular season, and it’s coming down to the wire as teams compete for a spot in the postseason. The top four teams are separated by just five points, with Tampa Bay Sun FC and Spokane Zephyr FC still in the playoff picture. 

The end of the season also means end-of-year awards, which the Super League recently announced along with the dates for the inaugural USL Super League Playoffs. Here’s who we think the favorites are for the five major awards as the teams look to close out their campaigns on a high note. 

Player of the Year: Addie McCain, Fort Lauderdale United FC 

Among the top four teams in the league, no single player has as much of an impact on their team’s success than Addie McCain. Tied for first in the Golden Boot race, McCain also leads FTL UTD in minutes played, tackles won, duels won, interceptions, chances created and is second in assists and third in shots. She makes her teammates better and will be the key to Fort Lauderdale finishing the regular season above the playoff line. 

Also in contention: Chioma Ubogagu, Dallas Trinity FC; Mia Corbin, Carolina Ascent FC 

Young Player of the Year: Sealey Strawn, Dallas Trinity FC 

Ever since Sealey Strawn came in as a substitute and scored the game-winner in her third appearance for Trinity against FTL UTD in November, it was clear she would be a major asset for Dallas going forward. The 17-year-old has two goals and two assists in four starts and 13 appearances and would likely have more, if not for her being called up to the USYNT U-18s camp last month. 

Also in contention: Taylor Smith, Fort Lauderdale United FC; Emma Johnson, Lexington SC 

Coach of the Year: Philip Poole, Carolina Ascent FC 

The Super League’s first announced Head Coach has led Carolina Ascent FC to a remarkable inaugural campaign. Poole guided the Ascent to what will likely be the league’s longest unbeaten run of the season, going its opening 11 matches without a loss. The team has never fallen below fourth on the table and is a favorite to win the first Players’ Shield. 

Also in contention: Tyrone Mears, Fort Lauderdale United FC; Pauline MacDonald, Dallas Trinity FC 

Defender of the Year: Brooke Hendrix, Tampa Bay Sun FC 

The contest for Defender of the Year is one of the toughest to predict, as nearly every club has at least one outstanding center back leading its defense. Brooke Hendrix is first among defenders in clearances (114) and blocks (19) with an 88% tackle success rate. On the other hand, Brooklyn’s Allison Pantuso leads the league in tackles (60) and duels won (149) and ranks second in recoveries (135) behind her teammate Kelsey Hill, while also playing all 1,980 minutes. However, Brooklyn’s 16 goals conceded this spring compared to Tampa Bay’s nine puts the odds in Hendrix’s favor. 

Also in contention: Allison Pantuso, Brooklyn FC; Sarah Clark, Spokane Zephyr FC; Hannah Davison, Dallas Trinity FC 

Goalkeeper of the Year: Madison White, Dallas Trinity FC 

Goalkeeper of the Year is another award that might be too early to call. As of now, Brooklyn’s Sydney Martinez leads the league in save percentage (80.5%), goals conceded (8) and goals-against average (0.76), but her battle for a starting spot with teammate Neeku Purcell might prevent her from claiming this award. It’s opened the door for Dallas’ Madison White, who now leads the league in shutouts (9) and is second in saves (46) and GAA (0.83) with the most minutes played among goalkeepers. 

Also in contention: Sydney Martinez, Brooklyn FC; Cosette Morché, Fort Lauderdale United FC; Hope Hisey, Spokane Zephyr FC  

How Carolina Ascent found its way back to the top of the standings 

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Amidst a jumble at the top of the league standings with four clubs separated by just two points, Carolina Ascent FC has found itself back in the No. 1 spot for the first time in 12 weeks.  

The team began its inaugural season going 11 matches without a loss before ending the fall campaign with three straight defeats. Battling through injuries and struggling to score, the break couldn’t come soon enough for the Ascent. 

However, Carolina has gone 4-2-1 and scored 15 goals, the most of any team since resuming play in February. Here’s how the Ascent have risen back to being one of the most dominant teams in the league. 

Finding the back of the net 

In Carolina’s final five matches of the fall, it had scored just two goals, with one coming from the penalty spot. The team wasn’t creating many quality chances, averaging two shots on goal and 0.9 Expected Goals per match. 

The start of the spring saw a clear shift; there were more opportunities, illustrated by the side averaging 2.0 Expected Goals per game, and the team could have had a few more comfortable wins or picked up more points if it had put away that second or third goal.  

It wasn’t until the Lexington match on March 23 that we saw a huge breakthrough for the Ascent. Four goals were the most in a match for the team, all of which came from patiently creating in the final third or pouncing on Lexington’s defensive mistakes. The confidence carried over to the 3-0 win against Dallas, the first time Carolina beat Trinity this season. Six different players have scored for Carolina this spring, and the team’s versatility in scoring has made it one of the best offenses over the last two months. 

Corbin and Harding 

Two keys to that offense improvement have been Mia Corbin and Audrey Harding. Both players were named to the Team of the Month for March, with Corbin honored as the Player of the Month. Carolina would not have seen the success it did had it not been for this duo. 

Corbin is now tied with Golden Boot leaders Dallas’ Allie Thornton and Fort Lauderdale’s Addie McCain on nine goals this season; six of Corbin’s goals have come since the return from the winter break. Whether it’s on a volley, winning possession off her defender or holding her runs so that she can play into space, Corbin does everything right to where her goals look easy. 

Harding, who was injured at the end of the fall, has returned with a vengeance. She recorded a brace against Lexington, her first goals of the season, and had three more assists in March alone. She is the ultimate playmaker for the team, boasting incredible technical skills to beat defenders and control the left flank. 

The more reps Harding and Corbin have together, the more likely they are to become the most dynamic and threatening midfielder pairing in the league. 

New signings 

Carolina’s defense has always been impressive. Even when the team wasn’t producing much on the offensive end, its strong defending was what earned it points in multiple draws in the fall. However, the team’s new additions during the winter break made its defense even better. 

It’s not surprising that center back Jenna Butler has fit so seamlessly into Carolina’s defensive unit, as she had previous experience competing with multiple Ascent players. However, the 25-year-old ranks second this spring among all defenders in clearances (46) and is averaging 81% passing accuracy. She’s also a threat inside the box, which we saw when she headed in her first goal of the season against Spokane. 

There was also a goalkeeper swap after Carolina brought in UNC alum Samantha Leshnak Murphy. While Meagan McClelland had been leading the league in various statistical categories, Leshnak Murphy has shown herself to be aggressive and confident in goal, most recently leading the team to back-to-back shutouts.  

If Carolina keeps up the solid defensive performances paired with the uptick in efficiency in front of goal, the team might hold on to this No. 1 spot through to the postseason. 

Spring steals: Which winter break additions are shining with their new teams? 

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Over the winter break, every USL Super League club signed and brought in new players on loan. While there were a few big names that we knew would make an immediate impact, others have shown themselves to be huge steals just two months into the Spring Schedule. 

Here are our top three spring steals this far: 

Gianna Gourley – DC Power FC

DC Power had the poorest offensive performance during the Fall Schedule. It had a league-worst conversion rate at 4.5% and recorded a league-fewest seven goals through the 14 matches – two of which were penalties, and another was gifted on an own goal. 

The team has already matched that total of seven goals in just four matches this spring, and all-but-one came in the run of play. DC is now averaging 1.75 goals per game this spring, behind only Dallas (2.5) and Carolina (2).  

A large part of this offensive burst is due to Gianna Gourley. We saw a glimpse of the striker’s talent while she was with Fort Lauderdale, but since her loan to the Capitol, she has provided a spark to the team’s floundering front line. Gourley has been ever-present, logging 360 minutes, and now leads DC with three goals, along with one assist and 10 shots, four of which have been on target. 

DC Interim Head Coach Phil Nana has frequently credited Gourley for her effort and skill over the last four matches. Although the team has still struggled to earn the results it would like, it has a lot to look forward to with Gourley now on its side. 

Laurel Ansbrow – Fort Lauderdale United FC

Laurel Ansbrow was fresh off an NCAA College Cup Final appearance with Wake Forest in December before joining FTL UTD this spring. While we saw her make history with the Demon Deacons last season, her short time in the Super League has been just as impressive. 

The center back is averaging a league-high 91% passing accuracy and ranks third among defenders in passes (310) and fourth in clearances (32) this spring. On top of that, she recorded an assist in her first match with Fort Lauderdale and has played all 540 minutes since joining the squad. 

With her center back partner Laveni Vaka out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, the 21-year-old will be the key piece to the team’s backline as it closes in on a playoff spot. 

Camryn Lancaster – Dallas Trinity FC

During the fall, Allie Thornton and Sam Meza were the two stars getting all the attention on Dallas’ offense. Once Meza completed her loan and returned to Seattle Reign, the focus shifted to the arrival of Texas Longhorn and USYNT midfielder Lexi Missimo. That overshadowed the addition of Camryn Lancaster a little, especially with the club announcing her only two days before its first match back. 

Lancaster played 23 minutes in her professional debut against Spokane, but it wasn’t until Dallas’ blowout win over Brooklyn that we saw what the TCU alum was made of. In her first start, she scored in first-half stoppage time and provided the run that led to Thornton’s first goal of the night. Lancaster later doubled her goal count in the following match. 

As another 2024 grad, Lancaster is young but has so much poise and skill in front of goal. All three of her shots have been on target, but she has also created three chances because she recognizes when the better option is to lay it off to her teammates. That high IQ paired with her speed and high press is a nightmare for defenders. 

It took Dallas a few matches to get things going, but it looks like the pieces are starting to click. Whether Lancaster is in the starting lineup or coming in off the bench, she will be an asset to Trinity going forward as it also makes a run for the postseason. 

Addie vs Allie: Who has the edge in the Golden Boot race?

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Two Texas natives are battling for the Golden Boot as we inch closer to the final two months of the regular season.  

Fort Lauderdale United’s Addie McCain and Dallas Trinity’s Allie Thornton sit at nine goals each, leading the league and propelling their teams to the top three in the Super League standings. 

Which one is most likely to reach double digits goals first and will they end up finishing the season with the most scored? Here’s why the stats give Thornton the edge to claim the award. 

STRAIGHT SHOOTER

When it comes to finishing, Thornton might be the most lethal finisher in the Super League. She has led the league nearly all season with her shooting accuracy, which currently stands at 67.9%, the highest among players with minimum 12 shots. She has the most shots on target (19) and the best minutes per goal ratio (153.11).  

That said, McCain is not far behind. She has 26 total shots, just two fewer than Thornton, with 13 on target for 50% shooting accuracy. She has also played nearly 200 more minutes than Thornton, so her mins/goal is slightly higher at 171.44, but she has an xG of 5.59 to Thornton’s 5.83. 

POSITIONAL ADVANTAGE

Thornton’s role is crucial, even though the type of goals she and McCain have scored are nearly identical. All 18 of the duo’s goals have come from inside the penalty area, both have one headed goal and only one of McCain’s goals has been from the penalty spot. 

But their starting positions matter and play a role in why Thornton will likely finish first. She is a true striker and spends nearly the entire match in Dallas’ attacking third. McCain, on the other hand, is frequently dropping back and getting on the defensive end as a center midfielder. 

Below are the heat maps from the Dallas vs Fort Lauderdale match on November 2, with Thornton on the left and McCain on the right.

TEAMMATE INFLUENCE

When your team is relying on you to be a finisher, it makes a difference. That’s not always the case for McCain, whose FTL teammates Jasmine Hamid, Sh’Nia Gordon and Kiara Locklear have scored eight goals this spring, helping carry the side to top spot. On top of that, both of McCain’s assists this season have come since the return from the winter break. If the team is finding success through McCain winning possession in the midfield and creating chances for her teammates, there will likely be fewer goal-scoring opportunities for her the rest of the season. 

By contrast, while Thornton and the Trinity attack also gained offensive reinforcement through the winter additions of Lexi Missimo and Camryn Lancaster, there’s no question as to her role in the Dallas lineup. Thornton’s years of experience – and already spending the first half of the season creating chemistry with midfielders Amber Brooks and Chioma Ubogagu – still make her Dallas’ first option, and the player they’ll count on to deliver in the opposing penalty area down the stretch. 

Both teams have 10 matches to go and are setting themselves up for postseason play. Everyone should be keeping a close eye on these two going forward to see who will earn the inaugural Super League Golden Boot. 

Brooklyn vs. Fort Lauderdale: A battle for the top spot

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Here’s what you need to know ahead of a crucial clash at the new Maimonides Park 

Saturday night brings the game everyone associated with Brooklyn FC has been anticipating, its first at the new Maimonides Park in Coney Island. 

What’s more, it could end up as one of the most consequential regular season games in the USL Super League’s inaugural season. 

Brooklyn (9-4-4, 31pts) is set to host Fort Lauderdale United FC (8-5-4, 28pts) at 6:30 p.m. ET in the latest No. 1 vs. No. 2 clash we’ve seen this season. Only three points separate the teams, and with how both have looked since the return from break, we could be in for another big upset. 

Here’s the breakdown on this top-of-the-table battle:  

Potential outcomes

  • A win for Brooklyn would give the team a much-needed boost and extend its first-place lead. It would also provide Carolina or Dallas a chance to jump over Fort Lauderdale into second place. 
  • A win for Fort Lauderdale would put both teams at 31 points, but Fort Lauderdale would claim the tiebreaker based on head-to-head points earned. FTL would be in top spot for the first time this season, and Brooklyn would be knocked to second for the first time since mid-November. 
  • A draw would keep Brooklyn in first place but still leaves the door open for Carolina and Dallas to take second. 

Recent form

Brooklyn has not looked quite like the team we saw during most of the Fall Schedule. The league-leaders went into the break on a six-match winning streak with four consecutive clean sheets, but since the return, it has gone 0-1-2 with just one goal scored and seven conceded. Last week’s 6-0 loss to Dallas was extremely uncharacteristic for Head Coach Jess Silva’s side and a match the team would like to quickly forget. 

Fort Lauderdale is on the complete opposite end of the spectrum. The team has gone 5-0-2 in its last seven matches with a goal differential of +7. The new additions the team brought on over the break have provided even more depth to FTL’s roster, and its attacking unit is one of the fastest and most lethal groups in the league. 

Previous meetings

The sides are 1-1-0 against each other this season with the home team taking the three points in both matches. In October, it was the 18-year-old Reese Klein who scored the game-winner for FTL in the 1-0 win. Fort Lauderdale owned the possession battle in that match with 59% of the ball and had seven shots on target to Brooklyn’s two. 

In the second meeting, Brooklyn turned the tables. Goals from Sam Kroeger, Dana Scheriff and Mackenzie George helped the team to a 3-1 victory. Eleven of its 17 shots were on frame, and the win was the second of six during that unbeaten surge to end the fall. 

Players to watch

Brooklyn: Luana Grabias (F), Sam Kroeger (M), Sasha Pickard (D) 

Fort Lauderdale: Jasmine Hamid (M), Addie McCain (M), Laurel Ansbrow (D) 

Grabias is one of the most technical forwards in the league with the ability to score in a variety of ways. Paired with Kroeger’s knack for intercepting passes and quickly playing her teammates into space, Fort Lauderdale needs to be wary of Brooklyn on the counterattack. 

On the other end, the duo of Hamid and McCain has been nearly unstoppable this season. They account for 16 of FTL’s 25 goals on a combined 51 shots. McCain is incredible at gaining possession of the ball in the midfield – she leads the league in duels won (110) – and Hamid has shown she will take any bit of space defenders give her and blast shots from distance. 

On the defensive end, Ansbrow has quickly become one of the best center backs in the league since her arrival in Fort Lauderdale in January. She can play great balls over the top, and her size makes her a huge aerial threat. Meanwhile, Pickard has been stellar in the outside back position for Brooklyn. She’s speedy and positions herself well to cut off her opponent’s crosses, but she also makes the runs forward to provide an option in the team’s attack. 

What we learned from Week 23 in the USL Super League 

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Fortunes in the USL Super League seem to change every week, and this one was no different. Last weekend’s results showed how tight the competition is across the league and that all unbeaten streaks eventually come to an end. 

Here are the three biggest takeaways from Week 23: 

Tampa Bay is Fort Lauderdale’s kryptonite 

Heading into Saturday, Fort Lauderdale United FC looked like it might be able to pull out the win against its interstate rival. United was at home, won its last two and four of its last five matches, and Jasmine Hamid was on a heater. 

But just like when it met Tampa Bay Sun FC a few weeks ago, Fort Lauderdale couldn’t hold on for all three points. The hosts won the possession battle with 55 percent of the ball, but only one of its eight shots were on target. Meanwhile, the Sun had three shots on frame, with its goal coming from FTL’s backline being a step too slow and Hamid keeping Cecilie Fløe onside. Cosette Morché made a huge save in the 14th minute after Fort Lauderdale had a defensive breakdown, otherwise Tampa Bay could have come away with the win. 

Against the other two teams Fort Lauderdale has faced this spring, its defense looked organized and has conceded just once to Carolina Ascent’s Mia Corbin. But Tampa Bay completely exposed FTL’s defensive weaknesses, and the sides split points once again. 

Spokane and DC need to play with urgency sooner 

Both Spokane Zephyr FC and DC Power FC opened their spring accounts with impressive performances that could’ve given them momentum to build off of in Week 23, especially being back at home. However, Carolina Ascent FC and Lexington SC spoiled their returns with both matches ending 2-1. 

Ironically, DC and Spokane both prevented the shutout with goals in the 85th minute. It wasn’t until late in the second half that both teams picked up the pace and put their opponents on their heels with quality looks on goal. The fact remains eighth-placed DC is last in the league with 13 goals conceded in the first half, and seventh-placed Spokane isn’t far behind on 11 goals against. It’s a big reason why they’re in the spots they sit in.  

What is happening to Brooklyn? 

Nobody could’ve predicted the 6-0 smackdown that Brooklyn FC suffered against Dallas Trinity FC on Sunday. Not only had Dallas not scored against Brooklyn in either of their last two matches against each other, Brooklyn had conceded just nine goals all season, the only single-digit figure in the league. And to be shutout for the second week in a row is extremely unlike Brooklyn. 

But since the group’s return to play last month, they’ve just looked a little off. They conceded early against Tampa Bay but battled back to earn a point. They looked slow and blunt in attack in the scoreless draw against Lexington. Against Dallas, they could barely get out of their own half, let alone connect two passes together. Brooklyn plays second-place Fort Lauderdale next week, and if it shows up how it has all spring, it can kiss that No. 1 spot goodbye.