Tampa Bay Sun Weekly – 1-1 D at DC Power
Date: Saturday September 12, 2026
Result: DC 1-1 Tampa Bay
Records: Tampa Bay Sun (8 pts 2W-2D-1L); DC Power (8 pts 2W-2D-2L)
Standings: The Sun are 4th in the USL Super League and United are 7th.
The Sun went away from home and, although they didn’t lose, will likely be frustrated only to come back with a draw. DC put up a good fight, and they could’ve won the match. However, it was the visitors who looked more likely late on. Next up, they have a chance to get another win the weekend after next when they host Lexington. The latter hasn’t started the year as well as they ended the last one, so local fans will be hoping for a good game in a week’s time.
Was a draw a fair result last Friday?
Certain things in soccer pop up a lot, so you’ll have to excuse me if you’ve previously seen in this column the phrase, “the Sun rode their luck at times.” The first half against DC especially was an instance in which Tampa Bay could’ve conceded, but somehow managed to avoid it. That set them up for a better second half with the help of some changes in personnel.
The Sun added a few wrinkles to the match before it started, going with a new XI that had not been seen before. New signing Samar Guidry came in at right back, while Parker Goins started up the wing in front of her. Sabrina McNeill, who’d done so well in the 2025-26 campaign, got her first start of the sprint season again at left back.
Immediately following kickoff, it almost looked like Guidry was a right defender and Goins was a right wingback, such was the pressure the Power exerted early on. Tampa Bay had trouble finding their footing for most of the first 45 minutes. Pressing from the opposition forced a couple of turnovers of possession, while – more importantly – the Sun had some howlers.
Getting into the halftime break at 0-0 was a near miracle. The Sun defense had passed the ball right to DC players on multiple occasions, several under light or lesser pressure, effectively gifting them better chances than they’d been able to create. Keeper Cristina Roque came up with some big saves at moments, and wasteful finishing spared Blue and Gold blushes.
Manager Denise Schilte-Brown saw room to improve for the second half. She took Goins off the field and pushed Guidry up the wing, bringing Taylor Chism in at right back again. The latter had started there every game prior so far this season. She was a calming presence, and the whole team played better after the interval. It must also be said that simply passing better helped out tremendously.
Chism would play a role in the attack that led to the first goal of the game as well. After the Sun gave up possession off a throw-in near the Power box, she slid into her player, winning the ball back and stopping a DC counter attack in the process. The ball eventually found the feet of Jordyn Listro, whose smart improvisation led to the through ball for Shea Connors.
Connors has started off the season extremely well, and this match would be no exception. She was feisty throughout, getting in multiple spats with the DC keeper. She got the better of Kate Cappelletti on this one, though, with the latter just waiting on her line for far too long. The Sun striker was able to pass the ball easily to the other side of the net to take the lead.
The Power were not out of it, though, and they made good after a line change in the 69th minute. That was right before a long range free kick, which the visiting defense did not handle well. Even so, it must be pointed out how flukey the goal was. Emma Jaskaniec was actually facing away from the Sun net with the ball at her feet. A quick thinking backheel was sufficient.
You can’t take that goal out of the equation as a whole. However, the Sun had a good game when it all comes out. They faced adversity – much of it self-made – and they handled that well enough to live for another fight. That second fight was just the second half, and they might have earned a win during that 45 minutes. It’s a good note to take into their bye week in preparation for more.
Player of the Game:
Liz: Viv Bessette
JD: Shea Connors
