Sun FC Weekly: Setbacks and Signs of Life

Date: Saturday August 30, 2025

Result: Tampa Bay 2-3 Sporting JAX  

Records: Tampa Bay Sun (0 pts 0W-0D-2L); Sporting Club Jacksonville (3 pts 1W-0D-1L)

Standings: The Sun sit 9th in the USL Super League while JAX are 4th.  

After what turned into a feisty game, the Tampa Bay Sun might have felt hard done by. A call from the referee turned out to be crucial when visitors Sporting JAX added a converted penalty and then a third goal to their haul. It was too big a hole to climb out of. Naturally, there’s little rest in soccer, and the team must dust themselves off to go again this Saturday. They’ll be on the road against a tough side in Carolina. Tune in on Peacock to take in the game!

It’s not all on the ref… but that was that a pen?

In two games so far, the Sun have conceded five times. While this doesn’t mean the sky is falling, it does mean they’ve earned no points so far. To re-emphasize the part about the sky, the first half of the season does not have to mean much for the playoffs or who wins. Stay in the race, learn your best formation, build for the run up to the postseason. That’s the Super League.

To break it down further, the first half of this match went by without a goal, which is not to say nothing happened. The most interesting piece of information from that first 45 minutes was the starting XI. Tampa Bay did not start with a recognized striker up top, choosing to play Carlee Giammona alongside Sydny Nasello and Jilly Shimkin in the most attacking roles. 

A midfield of Jordyn Listro, Gabby Provenzano, and Mackenzie Pluck rounded out the higher lines. Listro and Pluck carried over from the first match, while Jordan Zade and Ava Tankersly both missed out. This is to say neither made the team, as they appear to be dealing with injuries. They have hampered the squad even in these early days of the new campaign. 

The Blue and Gold also trotted out a new keeper. Manager Denise Schilte-Brown gave Austrian newcomer Bella Kresche a go in net, seemingly still looking for her overall #1. Sadly, this doesn’t appear to be the game in which that decision will be made. While it wasn’t Kresche’s fault they gave up three goals, it seems inarguable she could’ve done better.

After a first goal conceded with lax defending, another followed roughly ten minutes later when the Sun gave away a penalty. In the buildup to the foul, Sabrina McNeill was putting pressure on the JAX attacker Ashlyn Puerta. Despite being more experienced, the former went in a little too quickly on the latter after she’d already gone to ground immediately beforehand. 

It’s the kind of play that you look back on and have to ask, why? Puerta took the subsequent kick from the spot, putting her side up two-nil. She followed that up just five minutes later by carrying the ball into the box from a short corner and sliding it past Kresche for a second time. It was clear this was supposed to be a cross. The fact that it went in won’t matter to Jacksonville. 

After the game, DSB did not seem happy. The Sun scored two of their own before the final whistle blew; but, that would likely not stave off their coach’s wrath. Defensive issues were the larger problem on the night. In the first game, it’s possible to say that poor finishing was the leading factor in the loss. This past Saturday, though, it was at the back that the Sun threw it away.

Player of the Game: 

Liz:  Carlee Giammona

Tom: Mackenzie Pluck

Date: Saturday September 6 at 7pm

Upcoming Game: Carolina Ascent vs. Tampa Bay Sun

Can we beat them on the road?

This weekend, Tampa Bay go on the road for the second time of the new season. They’re still searching for their first win. The opposition have only played once, earning a 2-2 draw. That point still puts them exactly one ahead of the Sun in the table. This is a fact that won’t be lost on players, staff, or the fans in Florida. They’ll want to get things going on a better path. 

With Carolina having only played the one time, there’s only so much footage to use. In the interim two weeks, they may have changed their ideas, added new pieces, or decided to stay the course. Everyone will get a good hint of what they want to do when the starting lineup comes out. The Sun will have to go into this with a game plan that may need to be changed, depending on circumstances.

At this stage, the Blue and Gold have a couple ideas to work with. Giammona has two goals. Nasello has one assist. She was also heavily involved in the first strike Giammona put in against Brooklyn. These two players should continue to be given a good platform to combine in the attack. Filling out other positions appears to be a work in progress right now. 

The priority should be finding what works best with the players available. As stated above, injuries are already taking a toll on things. Schilte-Brown may not be able to play the way she wants because of who is or isn’t available. One thing seems clear: the defense needs shoring up in one way or another – at least based on prior matches. 

Victoria Haugen has started as a fullback in both games with Brooke Hendrix and Viv Bessette reprising their roles in the middle. The left back has changed from Emerson Elgin to the aforementioned Sabrina McNeill. Elgin was also on the bench for the loss to Sporting JAX, making a late appearance off the bench. McNeill earned an assist in addition to giving away a pen vs. Jacksonville.

DSB will be putting her charges through the reps this week before the game. A major focus, almost assuredly, will be who creates the best defense. Bessette made a few mistakes against Brooklyn. It was a failure of the whole unit against Sporting. Sorting this out will give the Sun a better chance to take some points off Carolina, be it their first win or draw of the season. 

RBLR Score Predictions: 

Lizzie: 1-1 D

Tom: 0-0 D

Yurika: 2-0 L

James: 1-1 D

RBLR Score Predictions Standings:

Lizzie: 0

Tom: 0

Yurika: 0

James: 0