JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds from the Gainbridge Super League a season ago clash for the first time this Fall when the Lexington Sporting Club women take on Sporting Club Jacksonville.
Lexington and Jacksonville established an intriguing dynamic during the 2025/26 season, the inaugural year for the Florida side.
For virtually the entire season, one of the two paced the Gainbridge Super League standings. They ended up finishing No. 1 and No. 2 when the dust settled at the end of the regular season, with Lexington leapfrogging JAX on the final day to secure the Players’ Shield.
In three meetings last season, Lexington claimed victory twice while Sporting JAX did so once. LSC won the first meeting 4-2, followed by JAX’s 3-0 shutout and finally a tight 2-1 Lexington win in late April.
Jacksonville has once again come out of the gates hot, posting a 3W-1L-1D record. Lexington, on the other hand, has played only three matches through five weeks and owns a 1W-2L-0D record early.
It was a tough one to swallow for LSC last time out. Despite posting two-and-a-half times more expected goals than Carolina Ascent FC (2.43-0.97) and leading in shots on target (5-1), Carolina made its one chance count and swiped the 1-0 win with an 88’ minute goal.
That match serves as a microcosm for the Fall 2026 season thus far for Lexington. LSC’s 2.13 expected goals per 90 leads the Gainbridge Super League. DC Power FC ranks second with 1.88 xG.
The Gals in Green are creating the same chances that made them so deadly a season ago and resulted in hoisting the championship trophy. It is only the finishing that has let them down.
Lexington will look to improve its finishing Sunday night in the club’s first match away from home. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. ET.
SCOUTING JACKSONVILLE
Sporting Club Jacksonville started the season with wins in each of its first three contests. However, a draw against a strong DC side and a shocking 3-2 loss to last-place Brooklyn FC last time out have exploited the cracks in JAX’s armor.
After trailing only Lexington by one goal last season, it is no surprise Sporting JAX’s offense is off to a tremendous start to begin the Fall 2026 campaign. The club’s nine goals are tied for the most in the Gainbridge Super League, as is its 18% conversion rate. Seven different JAX players have notched assists as well.
Baylee DeSmit has come out of the gate on a mission. The midfielder from Maryland has already bagged five goals to lead the league after scoring 12 last season.
Goalkeeper Kaitlyn Parks got her first starting nod of the season vs. Brooklyn after Jamie Gerstenberg started the first four matches for JAX. Parks failed to make a save in her 2026 Fall debut, while Gerstenberg has made 11 saves on 14 shots faced for a 78.6% save percentage.
STAT OF THE MATCH
Last season, Lexington was the only club to record a winning record against Sporting JAX (2W-1L-0D).
HOW TO WATCH
The match will stream live on Peacock.
