Roar: Sporting Jax women win home soccer, roll out reptilian mascot
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Second-half turnaround: Ashlyn Puerta scored only 45 seconds after entering the game and Baylee DeSmit netted two more goals to boost Sporting Club Jacksonville women's soccer to second place in the Gainbridge Super League, defeating Tampa Bay Sun FC 3-2 in the home opener on Aug. 22.
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Puerta power: The league's player of the year in Sporting Jax's inaugural season, Puerta smashed a game-tying 25-yard laser in the 46th minute, moments after entering as a halftime sub for Maci Teater at the University of North Florida's Hodges Stadium.
DeSmit double: Two more goals for DeSmit pushed Jacksonville in front. In the 60th minute, Meg Hughes dribbled down the right wing and cut the ball back for DeSmit, who cracked a 20-yard shot off the hands of Tampa Bay goalkeeper Liz Beardsley and into the net. Ten minutes later, DeSmit stayed onside for a crisp finish after a headed assist by Coco Thistle.
Dinosaur in the house: The club introduced its new mascot, orange dinosaur Sporting Rex, in a pregame presentation that also included appearances from the Jaguars' Jaxson de Ville and the Jumbo Shrimp's Southpaw.
Quick free kicks: Tampa Bay (0-1-1) scored twice on the break, with Shea Connors giving the visitors a first-half lead and Jordan Zade narrowing the gap to 3-2 late. … Sporting Jax goalkeeper Jamie Gerstenberg made six saves, preserving the edge amid a stoppage-time flurry from the Sun. … Thistle made her club debut in place of Melina Descary in the 60th minute. … First-team all-league forward Paige Kenton was unavailable due to illness.
They said it: "It was a really big 30 minutes for us [after halftime], probably the best I've seen us in a long time, to be honest, and very clinical in front of goal as well." — Sporting Jax coach Stacey Balaam.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Roar: Sporting Jax women win home soccer, roll out reptilian mascot