Tag: NSWL

Bay FC match wrap: That’s the Spirit, Bay gets shutuout by Washington 2-0 at Pay Pal Park Sunday

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Bay FC worked hard to get a ball in the back of the net but the Washington Spirit were just too much on defense at Pay Pal Park in San Jose on Sun Apr 5, 2026 in NWSL action. (Bay FC photo)

By William Espy

SAN JOSE–Bay FC was back at PayPal Park on Easter Sunday to face off against Trinity Rodman and the Washington Spirit for the first time this season. Bay suffered a 2-0 shutout.

Washington was dominating the run of play and possession early on.

Just before the half-hour point, two players collided heads shortly after a corner causing a slight delay. Brooklyn Courtnall and Lucia Di Guglielmo both went down, but quickly got back to their feet. After both were back up, the game went into a short hydration break due to the high temperatures.

Two Washington defenders, Di Guglielmo and Tara Rudd collided with one another. Both went down and got medical attention. Di Guglielmo, who was covered in blood, was the first to walk off the field, while Rudd continued getting medical attention on field. Rudd eventually continued to play.

The game remained a 0-0 tie heading into halftime.

Washington took a 1-0 lead and broke the deadlock in the 57th minute when Jordan Silkowitz attempted to clear the ball and it took a wild deflection off of Brooklyn Courtnall for an own goal.

There was another collision in the 64th minute, this time it was Bay FC defender Sydney Collins who went down following a collision with Silkowitz and a Spirit attacker. Collins remained in the game.

Gift Monday added Washington’s second goal of the night in the 86th minute, making it 2-0 and seemingly putting the game away for Washington.

The Spirit would maintain the shutout, and walk away victorious.

NSWL action: Anderson and Lema score big for Bay FC in 2-0 shutout over Louisville

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Thrill of victory as Bay FC wins their home opener against Racing Louisville at Pay Pal Park in San Jose on Sat Mar 22, 2025 (Bay FC X photo)

By William Espy

SAN JOSE–Bay FC hosted their home opener against Racing Louisville on Saturday night in front of a packed crowd at PayPal Park. The Bay Area’s newest soccer team was looking to build on their performance from their inaugural season, when they were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round following an own goal in extra time. Bay impressed big in their home opener match against the Racing with a 2-0 shutout.

Bay FC Starting XI: Silkowitz, Malonson, Dahlkemper, Anderson, Dydasco, Huff, Pickett, Bailey, Kundananji, Conti, Lema

Louisville Starting XI: Lund, Millet, Wright, Hase, Petersen, DeMelo, Borges, Sonis, Flint, Fischer, Sears

Kiki Pickett was shown a yellow card in just the second minute of the match. On the ensuing attack, Louisville had a solid scoring chance but it went just over the crossbar and landed on top of the net. Rachael Kundananji was taken down in a collision at midfield, but after a momentary delay got up and remained in the game.

Moments later, Bay FC got the first corner opportunity of the night, which Taylor Huff took. While nothing came of that chance, that wouldn’t be the case in the 12th minute when Huff stood over the ball for a free kick, the ball found its way to newly converted center back Joelle Anderson, who put the ball past Katie Lund into the back of the netting for a 1-0 Bay lead.

Kayla Fischer had Louisville’s strongest scoring chance to that point of the night in the 26th minute, but once again the shot went too high. In the 34th minute, Dorian Bailey tried to pick a corner on an ambitious shot that nearly went in but was just too high.

There was a long delay a few moments later, as Savannah DeMelo went down and had to be stretchered off the field. She was responsive and shook her teammates’ hands as she exited the field.

Bailey was shown a yellow card in the 45th minute. Late in stoppage time, Karlie Lema and Kundananji found themselves with only a single defender between them and the goal. Despite the easy play of getting the ball up to Kundananji, Lema showed outstanding levels of confidence for a rookie, firing off a rocket of a shot and extending Bay FC’s lead to 2-0. Not long later, Huff and Ary Borges collided, resulting in Huff being shown a yellow card.

At half-time, Bay led 2-0. Head coach Albertin Montoya opted not to make any changes heading into the second half, despite his team having three yellow cards already. Louisville waited until the 61st minute to make any changes, taking off Borges and Janine Sonis for Katie O’Kane and Sarah Weber. In the 63rd minute, Huff and Taylor Flint’s heads collided. Huff was fine, however Flint did get looked at by the trainer before remaining in the game.

Hannah Bebar came in during the 74th minute, making her NWSL debut, alongside Penelope Hocking, taking the place of Caroline Conti and Bailey. In the 90th minute, Huff nearly scored her first career goal as well, hitting the post.

Ultimately time would expire, and Bay FC would walk away with their first win of the season, 2-0.