Cotton Bowl Stadium | Dallas, Tx. — Nov. 8, 2026
The Sporting JAX women’s team fought hard against Dallas Trinity FC on the road Sunday, earning a 1-1 draw in a defensive battle.
Closing Out the Half Strong
The match saw a good bit of action early, ultimately culminating in a Dallas goal in the 24th minute. They continued pressing for a second, but the Sporting JAX defense held strong to limit the damage.
As the second half approached its end, the Sporting JAX attack kicked into high gear, applying heavy pressure on the Dallas defense. While the equalizer didn’t materialize before the break, it helped readjust the tone as the team went into the second half.
“I think the end of the first half definitely gave us momentum going into the second half,” Sporting JAX captain Sophie Jones said. “We are a team that likes to be on the front foot, so being able to put them under pressure helped us grow into the game and get the ball deeper into our attacking third.”
Puerta Levels
Sporting JAX took this energy into the second half, and it all paid off in the 58th minute. Forward Paige Kenton intercepted a pass by Dallas goalkeeper Neeku Purcell, and found midfielder Ashlyn Puerta, who scored to level the match, 1-1.
“At the start of the second half, we had to stay disciplined knowing we couldn’t concede another goal,” Sporting JAX Head Coach Stacey Balaam said. “Once we settled into the second half, it was time to press a little more aggressively and put them under pressure. This paid off and we capitalized on their turnover of possession.”
Puerta and Kenton have worked hard to continue building their on-the-pitch connection throughout their second season together, and it has been well worth the effort. Both were recently named to the Gainbridge Super League Team of the Month for their October performances and on Sunday, they showed that they’ll be carrying this excellence into the final month of the regular season as well.
“I love playing with Paige; her work rate and ability to hold the ball up and find players underneath are so key for us both offensively and defensively,” Puerta said. “We are very happy to be back at it, and it has definitely been paying off in the final third.”
Puerta now leads all of the Gainbridge Super League in goals scored this season with nine.
The Match’s Conclusion
The visitors continued to push as they attempted to take the lead, coming extremely close just one minute after tying. Forward Baylee DeSmit was able to beat Purcell, and narrowly had her shot blocked at the last second as Dallas rallied to keep things even.
Sporting JAX kept at it, but the match ultimately came to a close, tied 1-1.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t find a game winner even though we created great opportunities in front of their goal,” Balaam said. “Dallas remained resilient and credit to them for managing through the waves of pressure we applied to them. It was an encouraging performance that we will take into the next one.”
Looking Ahead
Sporting JAX returns home next Sunday, November 15 at 5 p.m. to face DC Power FC in a match that was rescheduled due to inclement weather stemming from Hurricane Isaias last month. Fans looking to attend can purchase tickets by clicking below.
