It was a big day for Sporting Jax on April 4, as the club hosted its first doubleheader at Hodges Stadium.
The action kicked off with the women’s team getting a 2-0 victory over Brooklyn FC.
Paige Kenton and Sophia Boman were the goal scorers for Sporting Jax.
The team had good energy going into the match, which turned out to be a very important victory.
“We had a really good week at practice, and we were able to translate that into the game,” said a Sporting Jax player.
The women’s team has now officially clinched a spot in the 2026 Gainbridge Super League Playoffs, becoming the first expansion team in league history to secure a postseason berth in its inaugural season. Sporting Jax has remained at the top of the Gainbridge Super League table continuously since Dec. 20.
When asked if the team will start focusing on the postseason, head coach Stacey Balaam said, “Never, one game at a time always.” Balaam knows what her team has been able to do in their first season is special, but she wants them to stay focused.
“If you look too far ahead, you can easily overlook the next thing in front of you,” she said.
The head coach is proud of the bond her players have been able to form so quickly.
“We knew that we were on this journey together. We’ve gone through some really high moments and we’ve gone through some low moments, and it has brought us together even more,” Balaam said.
The men’s team is still searching for their first win of the season as they fell to the Tampa Bay Rowdies 1-0 in the second match of the day.
They struggled with possession time and had a total of six shots in the game.
Sporting Jax will host their next double header on April 25 at Hodges Stadium. The women’s game will kick off first against Lexington SC at 2 p.m. and the men’s team will face Miami FC at 7:30 p.m.
