LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Comeback Queens of Lexington came from behind to knock off Tampa Bay Sun FC Saturday night, 2-1, after surrendering the initial goal. Catherine Barry became the second player in Gainbridge Super League history to reach 20 regular season goals, and Sarah Griffith supplied the late winner.
The first half featured plenty of action, but unfortunately for Lexington fans, most of it took place in its own final third.
Tampa Bay was awarded a penalty kick in the 11’ minute, but the attempt rattled off the post to spare LSC an early concession. However, the visitors were able to convert a free kick just four minutes later to open the scoring.
The Sun was initially awarded a second goal later in the period, but after immense protest from LSC and deliberation with the assistant, the head official waved off the score for offside in what would become a key moment of the match.
The second half was all Lexington — a trend for a club that leads the league in second-half goals this season.
The breakthrough came for LSC in the 73’ minute when Catherine Barry found the back of the net for the fourth time this fall. A terrific move by Hannah White left her defender in the dust to make the play happen. She then whipped in a ball that Tampa Bay failed to clear and it landed at the feet of the league’s most dangerous striker who made no mistake.
With the goal, Barry joined Addie McCain as the only other players in league history to reach 20 regular season goals. She became the first to do so while scoring all 20 for the same club.
Sarah Griffith delivered the dagger in the 85’ minute when another failed clearance by Tampa Bay found Griffith, who had subbed on only 13 minutes earlier, at the top of the penalty box. She took aim and fired for her first goal of the season.
Both goals constituted the 10th and 11th second-half goals of the season for the Gals in Green.
With the victory, Lexington moved to 4W-3L-1D on the season and jumped into third place in the Gainbridge Super League standings. The club will host second-place Sporting JAX next weekend who leads LSC by just one point.
GOALS
15’ TB: Eleanor Dale (assist: Vivianne Bessette)
73’ LEX: Catherine Barry
85’ LEX: Sarah Griffith
LINEUPS
LEX: Ryan Campbell, Ally Brown, Regan Steigleder, Allison Pantuso, Alyssa Bourgeois, Nicole Vernis (73’ Darya Rajaee), Katie Murray (72’ Sarah Griffith), Hannah Johnson, McKenzie Weinert (58’ Hannah White), Addie McCain, Catherine Barry
TB: Cristina Roque, Samar Guidry, Kelsey Hill, Vivianne Bessette, Sabrina McNeill, Sydny Nasello (71’ Erika Zschuppe), Brooke Hendrix (86’ Reagan Raabe), Jordyn Listro, Eleanor Dale (86’ Parker Goins), Shea Connors (89’ Kennedy White), Jordan Zade (89’ Tori Waldeck)
UP NEXT
The Gals in Green host Sporting Club Jacksonville for $1.50 Beer Night next Friday, Oct. 23. The match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET.
