American Legion Memorial Stadium | Charlotte, N.C. — Sep. 26, 2026
The Sporting JAX women’s team drew, 3-3, against Carolina Ascent FC in a six-goal thriller on Saturday that served as another memorable matchup between the two sides.
An Aggressive Start
Sporting JAX entered this match determined to secure a result, but it wouldn’t be easy against a tough opponent. Nevertheless, the squad jumped out to a quick start, firing a shot before the clock had even reached one minute.
“We had a very encouraging start to the game and controlled the first half,” Sporting JAX Head Coach Stacey Balaam said.
This aggression continued as time continued to pass, but they weren’t able to find the opening goal–not yet, at least.
Baylee Gets It Going
The early offensive effort culminated in the 20th minute, but it was defense that made it possible. AJ Hennessey forced a turnover, passing it off to Ashlyn Puerta. From here, Puerta found Baylee DeSmit, who sent a precise strike into the net past Carolina goalkeeper Sydney Martínez.
“It’s very important to set the tone early; we came ready to play and getting that first goal was very important,” DeSmit said. “It allowed us to put our foot on the pedal and continue to attack.”
Sporting JAX may have grabbed the lead, but they weren’t done yet. The attack continued to apply pressure, seeking more throughout the remainder of the first half.
AJ’s First
Carolina ultimately found two goals–one in the first half and one in the first 20 minutes of the second half–to go ahead in the 61st minute. The momentum had swung in favor of the home team, but that didn’t stop Sporting JAX from climbing back. After all, the team has come from behind multiple times this season to gain points.
In the 71st minute, Sporting JAX lurked in the final third. Captain Sophie Jones worked toward the goal, sending a cross in front of the net. Hennessey was on the other end, connecting to score her first career goal as a professional. The milestone was well-timed, tying the match at two goals a piece.
“The goal meant a lot to me,” Hennessey said. “I’ve always dreamed of playing professionally and getting that first goal made it feel even more real.”
“AJ worked tirelessly throughout the game and fully deserved her goal,” Balaam said. “I’m happy for her to get off the mark and hope there is more to come.”
A Brace for Baylee
Less than 10 minutes after equalizing, DeSmit drew a foul in the box, leading to a penalty kick. The Gainbridge Super League’s leading scorer took to the spot, calmly converting to give Sporting JAX the lead. This was her second goal of the night, and her seventh of the season.
Carolina later scored once more to tie, with the match ultimately coming to a close deadlocked, 3-3.
Looking Ahead
While Sporting JAX would have preferred a full three points, the result helps snap a three-match winless skid.
“We probably deserved more out of the game and are feeling a bit disappointed to come away with just a point,” Balaam said. “However, we have now put two very good performances together back to back which is encouraging going forward.”
Sporting JAX will have a brief break before they return to play, taking the Hodges Stadium pitch next on Friday, October 9 at 7 p.m. against DC Power FC in the Gainbridge Super League Match of the Month. Fans looking to attend can purchase tickets by clicking below.
