Jacksonville, F.L. (October 31, 2026) — Brooklyn FC Women drew 4-4 on the road with Sporting JAX, earning their first points of the season away from their home turf at Maimonides Park.
An incredibly chaotic first half included four goals with the two teams going into the halftime break level. Brooklyn got off to a better start, with their first shot on target coming after just four minutes. The JAX goalkeeper, Jamie Gerstenberg, made an errant pass that went to Brooklyn forward Ashlyn Miller who tried a long shot that was saved.
The first goal of the game came in the 14th minute. Midfielder Jennifer Cudjoe found midfielder Jilly Shimkin out on the left wing and she crossed the ball to find forward Catherine Zimmerman unmarked in the middle of the box. Zimmerman tapped home for her fourth goal of the season, three of which have come against JAX.
In the 25th minute, Brooklyn extended their lead to 2-0, through Ashlyn Miller. A backheel pass from Zimmerman sent Shimkin running through the JAX defense. Shimkin nutmegged a defender, muscled off another defender and drew in the goalkeeper before passing to a wide-open Miller who was able to finish for her first Brooklyn goal.
Sporting JAX came alive after conceding the second goal, and cut the lead in half in the 27th minute. A free kick was crossed in by former Brooklyn defender Grace Philpotts that found the head of forward Baylee DeSmit, who scored her eighth goal of the season.
Six minutes later, the hosts equalized through a goal from forward Paige Kenton. The Brooklyn defense failed to clear a bouncing ball in their own box, and Kenton snuck in to steal the ball and score.
JAX continued to pile the pressure on Brooklyn for the rest of the first half, forcing some big saves from goalkeeper Bre Norris. In the 35th minute, she made a diving fingertip save after a shot from the edge of the 18 yard box. Another save came in the 40th minute, after multiple blocks by the Brooklyn defense. The ball then fell to a JAX player whose shot from six yards out went straight at Norris.
In stoppage time of the first half, defender Jackie Richards had an opportunity to take back the lead for Brooklyn. Richards, who played further forward in this match as a left winger, was sent through and her low-driven shot was pushed wide by Gerstenberg.
The goals continued in the second half. JAX started out controlling the tempo of the match after the break, but Brooklyn took the lead in the 56th minute against the run of play. A corner was crossed in by Jilly Shimkin and defender Lauren Gogal made a diving header at the back post to send the ball back across goal. Richards then headed home to give her team the lead and score her first Brooklyn goal.
Richards did not have to wait long for her second goal, scoring just a minute later. A ball wide from Shimkin sent Richards running down the left wing. She sized up her defender, dribbled towards the byline and shot across goal for her second of the match. With this goal, Shimkin became the first player in the history of the Gainbridge Super League to record three assists in a single match.
In the 61st minute, midfielder Abbey-Leigh Stringer entered the match to make her Brooklyn debut.
A penalty was awarded for JAX in the 67th minute after Kenton was sandwiched between two defenders. Midfielder Ashlyn Puerta stepped up to convert the penalty, cutting Brooklyn’s lead to 4-3.
JAX equalized for a second time in the match in the 80th minute as Puerta scored again, making it 4-4.
Kenton had multiple chances to win the game for JAX, including a diving header that was just wide, a goal that was ruled offside, and a shot that hit the post, all in the last 10 minutes. However, the Brooklyn defense held on for the draw and earned a valuable point in the playoff hunt.
SCORING SUMMARY
Brooklyn FC: Catherine Zimmerman 14’, Ashlyn Miller 25’, Jackie Richards 56’, 57’.
Sporting JAX: Baylee DeSmit 27’, Paige Kenton 33’, Ashlyn Puerta 68’, 80’.
DISCPLINE
Brooklyn FC: Jennifer Cudjoe 38’ (Yellow).
Sporting JAX: Meg Hughes 90+5’ (Yellow).
LINEUPS
Brooklyn FC – Bre Norris; Laila Booker, Lauren Gogal, Sophia Lowenberg, Sara D’Appolonia, Jilly Shimkin, Jennifer Cudjoe (Abbey-Leigh Stringer 61’), Jess Garziano, Ashlyn Miller, Jackie Richards, Catherine Zimmerman.
Unused Substitutes: Nikki Pasquarella, Nayeong Shin, Annie Williams-Arliington, Kiki Marković, Fia Lewis.
Sporting JAX – Jamie Gerstenberg; Maggie Illig (Keeley Dockter 61’), Georgia Brown, Grace Philpotts (Ginger Fontenot 84’); Meg Hughes, AJ Hennessey, Ashlyn Puerta, Sophie Jones, Sophia Boman (Melina Descary 61’); Baylee DeSmit, Paige Kenton.
Unused Substitutes: Kaitlyn Parks, Coco Thistle, Maci Teater, Mya Swinton.
UP NEXT FOR BROOKLYN FC WOMEN
With just four matches remaining this season, Brooklyn FC Women return home to play Carolina Ascent on November 7 at 2 PM ET before two more away games. They travel for a midweek match against DC Power on November 11 and will then play Tampa Bay Sun on November 21. Tickets are available on SeatGeek.
