Sporting Club Jacksonville midfielder Ashlyn Puerta was named the Gainbridge Super League Player of the Month for October after scoring seven goals in three matches. Sporting JAX went unbeaten during the month. Forwards Baylee DeSmit and Paige Kenton also earned league recognition by being named to the Gainbridge Super League Team of the Month.
Puerta’s October included a record-setting performance against Fort Lauderdale United FC on Oct. 16, when she scored four goals. The performance established the Gainbridge Super League record for most goals by a player in a match. She added two second-half goals against Brooklyn FC on Oct. 31, helping Sporting JAX complete a comeback that earned a point.
Puerta and DeSmit entered the final month of the regular season tied for the Gainbridge Super League lead with eight goals each. The three Sporting JAX players had combined for 19 goals entering that final month. DeSmit recorded one goal and one assist in October, while Kenton contributed two goals and one assist.
DeSmit and Kenton add to Sporting JAX recognition
DeSmit and Kenton’s Team of the Month selections gave Sporting JAX three recognized players from October. Their production complemented Puerta’s record-setting scoring stretch. Together, the trio provided 10 goals during the month.
Sporting JAX Head Coach Stacey Balaam credited the players’ individual performances while emphasizing the work of the entire team. “These ladies have been incredibly productive for us this season,” Balaam said. “When players consistently perform at the highest level week after week, they set themselves apart and put themselves in a different category. They fully deserve the recognition for their outstanding performances, but they’ll also be the first to acknowledge the teammates around them who are working just as hard and contributing to the team’s success. Success is always a collective effort!”
FSB Take
Sporting JAX enters the final month of the regular season with Puerta and DeSmit tied atop the league scoring race and Kenton adding another recognized attacking option. Puerta’s four-goal match set the league record, while the group’s 19 combined goals showed the scale of its contribution to the club. The October honors also reflect that Sporting JAX’s unbeaten month was supported by production from multiple players.
Source: Original report