Tampa Bay Sun Weekly: Brooklyn Up Next
Date: Saturday October 4, 2025
Result: Tampa Bay 0-0 Fort Lauderdale
Records: Tampa Bay Sun (3 pts 0W-3D-3L); Fort Lauderdale FC (12 pts 3W-3D-0L)
Standings: The Sun sit 9th in the USL Super League while United are 1st.
What seemed like a daunting task coming into the weekend turned out to be another iteration of the series of draws between the original Super League clubs from Florida. In six matchups between them, including a preseason game from summer 2024, they have drawn four, with Tampa Bay winning the other two. It’s still a good result, given the circumstances. They must now prepare for a road trip away to Brooklyn this weekend, where the team will be looking for a change in fortunes.
Are these two teams still this even?
It has been two wildly different seasons for Fort Lauderdale and Tampa Bay so far in the Super League. The former has been first or second for most of the early part of the competition, while the Sun are languishing in last place – where they have been for a few weeks now. Beyond that, the Blue and Gold are dealing with a very early injury crisis of epic proportions.
Fans didn’t know who would be available for the match this past Saturday after a bye week. Luckily, the Sun had most of their regular starters back again. Sydney Schneider returned in net, Viv Bessette took up her usual spot next to Brooke Hendrix, and Tash Flint also took part from the opening whistle. These were all good signs for what was to come.
Although Tampa Bay couldn’t score any goals in this one, it should be noted that United’s defense has been solid through its first six games, only conceding seven times. (The Sun, on the other hand, have let in ten from as many matches.) The south Floridians have a clear playing style and starting XI that has managed the potential chaos of a managerial change.
Other than keeping Denise Schilte-Brown in charge, it’s been Tampa Bay who have faced the most turmoil early on. The aforementioned injury crisis contributed to the team starting the new year very poorly on the field, hence their current position. Defensively in particular, the team has struggled. The two draws against Fort Lauderdale and Dallas beforehand were the best steps in the right direction.
How did they manage that? Although the backline was makeshift against Trinity a few weeks back, the return to an expected group of starters certainly helped against United. This is also true in net. Schneider hasn’t been readily available for her short time with Tampa Bay. Getting her a run of consistent games will get the keeper up to speed again and, hopefully, up to her best form.
The Blue and Gold also played in a controlled manner, seeking to shut down the best areas of attack that Fort Lauderdale has. As highlighted in this column last week, United’s wide players are extremely dangerous. They work well in combination with the attacking midfielder, Stella Nyamekye, and their striker Kiara Locklear. These players had much less space to move.
Tampa Bay also picked their moments to put pressure on the defensive players for Fort Lauderdale when they had the ball. This is a safe option when your own unit is getting back to match fitness. Even if there wasn’t as much going forward, you live to fight another day. Staying alive in the first half of the season is all that’s required. Make the playoffs, and you’re in with a shout.
Player of the Game:
Liz: Sydny Nasello
Tom: Sydny Nasello
Date: Saturday October 11 at 6:00 pm
Upcoming Game: Brooklyn vs. Tampa Bay
Could this be our chance to get a victory?
This weekend presents the Sun with a good opportunity. They haven’t won through the early stages of the 2025-26 campaign. As stated above, that’s okay. This isn’t time to panic. There’ll be a whole transfer window before fans should consider where the team needs to be. But, getting that first win would put a lot of people’s minds more at ease.
The opposition this weekend is in eighth place in the standings, three points ahead of the Sun and behind two other clubs on goal differential. Brooklyn have three draws in their first six games, the same as Tampa Bay, and only one win. It’s fair to say they aren’t doing well, either. The problem is that their lone victory came against… you guessed it.
On August 23rd, the Blue and Gold traveled to New York to take on Brooklyn from Maimonides Park in Coney Island. Despite a stoppage time consolation goal, it was the hosts who took advantage of defensive weaknesses and mistakes at the back. They’d had several good chances go begging before finally finding the net twice in the second half.
Since then, BKFC have been worse in defense than the Sun, giving up 12 goals so far. That includes three in their last match, a 3-3 home draw with Sporting Jax last weekend. The starting XI for Brooklyn appears to also be in flux, suggesting they are either facing injury issues or, possibly, their manager hasn’t found the answers to the questions he’s been posed so far.
While Tampa Bay have improved defensively, where they need more output is in the attack. Sydny Nasello and Carlee Giammona have led the charge early on – to no one’s surprise – with four goals and two assists between them. Only two players, Sandrine Mauron and Gabby Provenzano, have also found the net this season. Both of those are midfielders.
Getting production from the strikers on this team is paramount. Flint, returning to the gameday roster, is earning more playing time. Ava Tankersley was dealing with injury issues of her own. Hannah Keane hasn’t featured much so far, mostly making appearances off the bench. It’s safe to say the Sun haven’t found a replacement for Cecilie Floe yet. (She has two in two for games for Napoli in Italy right now.)
Brooklyn may not be ready to fold on the field. However, the Sun already know what they need to do to win here. They’ve played on this turf, against this team, and with these tactics. The staff should have tweaks in mind to prepare their side better, even if the Coney Islanders will have some of their own. It’s time to go out there and execute the game plan to get three points.
RBLR Score Predictions:
Lizzie: 1-0 W
Tom: 2-1 W
Yurika: 1-1 D
James: 3-1 W
RBLR Score Predictions Standings:
Lizzie: 5
Tom: 1
Yurika: 0
James: 3
