Home Win Over FLOOTD Review

Date: Saturday April 5, 2025

Result: Tampa Bay 2-0 Fort Lauderdale

Records: Tampa Bay Sun (30 pts 7W-9D-5L); Fort Lauderdale United FC (32 pts 9W-5D-6L)

Standings: The Sun stayed at 5th in the table.      

It was an incredible weekend for Sun fans – especially those who went to Riverfront Stadium. After three draws in three matches against their fellow Floridians – and another in preseason this columnist forgot – it was Tampa Bay who took the first ever bragging rights in the newest iteration of the Tampa – Fort Lauderdale soccer derby. Even more than that, it was the home side who boosted their playoff hopes with only seven regular season games left!

Now that was a lot of fun!

The preview column for this game for RBLR included some warnings. Those were mainly to temper expectations, as the Sun have at times thrown points away with errors on the pitch. At the other end, the team has consistently been able to create and execute on their chances. It was a frustrating combination that has left them out of the playoff race at the moment. 

However, Saturday night was a near-perfect performance. Errors were not completely removed; but, the work the team has been putting in during training sessions was fully on display. Defensively, they earned their shutout and played the type of game that should give the whole squad renewed confidence and drive for the next two months. 

Tampa Bay started their defensive effort from the front line, with a strong press when out of possession. The team was a goal-line save away from going ahead around 20 minutes in. Only another ten minutes would pass before that press led to the Sun’s first goal. Captain Jordyn Listro was the proactive agent in midfield and made her own chance out of nothing. 

Jordi, as the team calls her, intercepted a pass intended for Fort Lauderdale’s dangerous attacker Addie McCain. The latter would have been proud of the left footed finish – if not for the fact that her team was now losing. From the Heatwave supporters’ group came the new nickname of Jordi “Alba” Listro. Despite it being her off foot, la Capitana was still deadly. 

Riding their luck with a few wayward shots from Fort Lauderdale, especially after the substitution of starter Jackie Simpson from what looked to be a nasty injury, Tampa Bay battled back and fought to get momentum back in their favor. The new defensive unit of Tori Haugen, Brooke Hendrix, Viv Bessette, and Paige Almendariz contributed majorly with last ditch tackles. 

It was Ashley Orkus who was most responsible for the clean sheet, though. Routine catches punctuated multiple shots she had no business saving. To pick up a point from earlier, her role in net will give the whole defense, no matter who’s out there, supreme confidence in their shot stopper. Manager Denise Schilte-Brown labeled her #1 choice as the best in the whole USL Super League. Could anyone argue?

Ava Tankersley came on in the second half to help put the FLOOTD defense under more pressure. She had two chances late in the game to add to the scoreline, one of which she was able to put past the opposition keeper. Cosette Morche is among the tallest players in the league, so this was no easy feat. Her goal in the 80th minute helped seal the deal. 

Late goals have been a consistent problem for Tampa Bay (when they aren’t the ones scoring in stoppage time, that is). This one would prove to be the performance they’d been hoping for. They held on throughout stoppage time, which seemed to amount to only a few seconds. This can be the turning point, the game that galvanizes the Sun for the rest of the season. Fans who threw their neck ties on the field after the final whistle will certainly hope so. 

Player of the Game: 

Liz: Ashley Orkus

Tom: Jordyn Listro

RBLR Score Predictions Standings:

Lizzie: 19

Tom: 10

Yurika: 12

James: 8