Photos By Jim Brady/Florida Sports Network
JACKSONVILLE – On a windy night, Spokane Zephyr FC fought Sporting JAX to a 1-1 draw, breaking Jacksonville’s four game winning streak and pulling Spokane to within three points of fourth place Dallas Trinity FC, who holds the final playoff spot in Gainbridge Super League standings.
Zephyr FC got the scoring started in the 18th minute when midfielder Felicia Knox scored a point-blank goal to give Spokane a 1-0 lead. Ginger Fontenot initiated the play with a pass inside the box to Knox, who got behind Jacksonville’s backline and tapped in her third goal of the season.
Spokane’s opening score was the first goal Sporting JAX conceded since February 7th, with the expansion side having recorded a shutout in five straight matches before tonight.
Jacksonville gave a response moments after Knox’s goal, with Sophia Boman scoring her own point blank goal to level the match at 1-1. Ashlyn Puerta fired an initial shot at goalkeeper Hope Hisey, who deflected it to Boman for a rebound score.
Both clubs had opportunities at a go-ahead goal before halftime, with neither side converting. Jacksonville controlled time of possession and shot attempts in the first half, getting 12 shots off compared to Spokane’s three while holding possession for 72% of the half.
In the second half, Jacksonville had several opportunities inside the box to get the go-ahead score, with forward Ashlyn Puerta leaving a strike off the far post wide right in the 68th minute and Baylee DeSmit putting a one-legged shot in the penalty area wide right nine minutes later.
Spokane had one final push in the last 12 minutes of action, with forward Tori Zierenberg getting a fastbreak opportunity in the 81st minute and firing a shot off the far side that was saved by goalkeeper Kaitlyn Parks.
Zephyr FC earned two corner kicks in the 88th minute, with neither translating into a score for the visiting side. A counterattack by Jacksonville was stalled by Fontenot, who made a crucial tackle on forward Meg Hughes to stop a fastbreak opportunity, with the rest of Spokane’s backline holding up to secure the 1-1 draw.
