Following Brooklyn FC women’s 1-3 loss to Lexington SC, head coach Tomás Tengarrinha, forward Ana Marković, and defender Leah Scarpelli spoke to the media.
Tomás Tengarrinha, Head Coach
What did you see differently from the group in the second half?
“I think we were actually doing well up until we conceded the first goal, but after that, we dropped mentally. We reacted negatively to conceding, and the following two goals were a consequence of that first one. Overall, though, I believe we put in a solid performance against one of the best teams in the league. Every player who took part gave a good response, and that’s the most important thing for me.”
What do you want to see from the group overall as the team closes out the season on the road?
“I want to see the same level of commitment and resilience the team has shown so far. We understand that there’s nothing major at stake for us beyond finishing in a better position in the table, and we also know that our opponent has more riding on the game. That said, I expect every player selected to approach the match with the highest level of professionalism and ambition, with the clear objective of securing all three points.”
Ana Marković, forward, #7
How would you describe your mentality during a match like this?
“I was honestly a bit surprised myself that I could sprint for the full 90 minutes… without stopping haha but I think it’s because I always have this winner mentality in my head. I really hate losing, so I just kept thinking that we all had to keep pushing and running together to create chances until the end. I also knew I haven’t had that much playing time this season, so for me personally it was important to give everything and show my energy on the pitch. And of course, it was really special to play with my sister. She helped me a lot during the game with communication and positioning, and I think we really pushed each other throughout the match.”
What does that resilience say about this group heading into the final match of the season?
“It says a lot about the mentality and character of this team. Even when things were difficult, we kept fighting until the very end and we came really close to turning the game around. We even had the chance to make it 3–2 with the penalty, so I think that shows how dangerous and resilient we can be as a team. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough in the end, but everyone knows that we are a group that can change a game very quickly. That’s one of our biggest qualities, and we want to take that energy and confidence into the final match of the season!”
Leah Scarpelli, defender #17
From your perspective, what positives can the team still take away from the fight?
“It was definitely a battle today. I’m proud of the way we showed up and controlled possession for most of the match despite the scoreboard. A lot of players got the opportunity to step up and earn minutes, and I really enjoyed being out there with them.”
