September 9, 2024 – USL Super League (USLSL)
Spokane Zephyr FC News Release
In the first of three home games in September for the Spokane Zephyr FC, the team earned its second 1-1 draw of the season against Brooklyn FC on Sunday night.
“We left some opportunities open,” coach Joe Johnson said. “So, it’s a little disappointing, but I’m glad we created those opportunities and implemented what we’ve been working on and continued to build on them as the season went on and put the pieces together.”
The Zephyrs have already played one game and there was a two-week break before their match against Brooklyn, who have yet to make their USL Super League debut as their first match was postponed due to the condition of the pitch.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair between the two teams, with Spokane having 56.4 percent possession. No shots were scored until the 17th minute, when Brooklyn’s Lea Scarpelli took the ball off her left foot and fired a shot over the Spokane goal from outside the box.
Alyssa Bourgeois made her first start for the Zephyrs at right-back and showed solid defensive form against Brooklyn’s pressure. Attackingly, she sent a crucial cross to Emma Jaskaniec in the final minute of the game, who sent it wide.
Spokane’s first chance came in the 21st minute, when Emina Ekić’s deflected pass in the box was blocked by the goalkeeper. She was then flagged offside, giving possession back to Brooklyn.
Zephyr found the breakthrough through Taryn Ries in the 35th minute. Ekić dribbled down the right end and slid a cross onto the ground for Ries, who was waiting at the back and buried it into the bottom right corner of the net.
“It feels great,” Reese said. “Just being in my hometown with all these fans feels great.”
Brooklyn pressured Spokane throughout the first half and looked for a goal in the second half. Early in the first half, Izzy Nino stopped a Brooklyn shot just inside the box, the first of three she made on the night.
Jody Uelkekuhl and Jenny Vetter both made their debuts for Spokane, with Uelkekuhl, a Gonzaga product, coming on for Reese in the 63rd minute and Vetter coming on for Ekić in the 79th.
Despite being down 10-7, the Zephyrs held the lead until the 85th minute, when Nino blocked a shot inside the box, which rebounded to a Brooklyn forward who knocked him down, leading to a Brooklyn penalty. The call resulted in the fourth yellow card of the night against Spokane, and Jessica Garziano converted the penalty for Brooklyn.
Spokane went goalless for five minutes in the first half and the second half, drawing 1-1 and earning a point in the league standings.
“It definitely felt like another first game because there’s three weeks between games,” captain Sarah Clarke said. “I think it’s good to move on, to get into a rhythm of training a week and playing every weekend. So I think we were a little bit nervous again today. So once we get into that rhythm, I think that aspect will go away.”
Zephyr remains in fourth place in the USL Super League standings with two points and a 0-0-2 record. The club is looking for its first win of the season and has two home games left in “Zeptember.” Spokane will host Carolina Ascent FC for STEM Night on September 15, with the theme of the game being “Brilliant,” and DC Power FC on September 22 at ONE Spokane Stadium. On September 15, bring your family to the Concourse to work on a fun science project sponsored by Mobius.
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