February 25, 2023 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – NJ/NY Gotham FC News Release
Tampa, FL – In Gotham FC’s second scrimmage of preseason camp, the club defeated Florida State University 4-0 today in Tampa, with each of the four goals scored by a different player.
The opening goal of the match came in the 39th minute after McCall Zerboni sent a cross into the path of Sinead Farrelly, who settled the service and slotted a composed finish into the bottom corner.
Early in the second half, Midge Purce – who recently returned from U.S. National Team duty – scored in the 52nd minute, when she received the ball in the final third and cut left past a defender to slot the finish into the bottom right corner.
On the third goal, Icelandic forward Svava Rós Guðmundsdóttir high pressed to force a turnover in the opposing penalty area. Guðmundsdóttir then found Victoria Pickett, who slotted home the finish in the 82nd minute.
As Purce was facing back-to-goal in the final minute of the match, she played a ball back to Nealy Martin for a first-touch strike that hit the crossbar. Taylor Smith – who played both defender and forward in the match – collected the rebound to tuck away Gotham FC’s fourth and final goal.
Starters: Michelle Betos, Imani Dorsey, Kristen Edmonds, Mandy Freeman, Taylor Smith, Allie Long, McCall Zerboni, Delanie Sheehan, Sabrina Flores, Nahomi Kawasumi, and Sinead Farrelly.
Substitutes: Abby Smith, Mandy Haught, Nealy Martin, Iliana Hocking, Ellie Jean, Ali Krieger, Bruninha, Victoria Pickett, Jenna Nighswonger, Midge Purce, Svava Rós Gudmundsdóttir, and Smith (Taylor).
Quotes from Gotham FC Head Coach Juan Carlos Amorós
“I’m very pleased with both of (the halves). I think our target was to keep a clean sheet on both and making sure that we win both of the halves, and it happened.”
“That means a lot because today because four goals scorers were different, and we work a lot in making sure that everyone knows their role when we get into the final zone. I’m very, very pleased for everyone that obviously found the back of the net, but they were able to do it because of the work out of the back, so very pleased. Those goals – they always have a name. But for me, they have the whole team behind them today.”
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