Gotham FC Girls Weather Bay FC
Photo: Shara Talia Taylor – NY Beacon
By Shara Talia Taylor
The cold and rain were not a problem for Gotham FC as they bested Bay FC 3-0 in their match Saturday afternoon at the Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, NJ.
The women’s soccer team offered an exciting game for fans on their “Girls in Sports Day” as they played with energy, defended, scored, and took control from the start. The early efforts amounted to three goals in the first half that gave Gotham a significant advantage to outlast the Bay.
“I feel like it really set the tone of the game,” said Gotham rookie Forward Jordynn Dudley about the goals. “We knew we couldn’t lay off, because we didn’t want to give them any chances.”
Dudley had her first assist in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) match on Saturday. The first goal of the day happened in the 20th minute. A shot from Gotham Midfielder Savannah McCaskill, was deflected by Bay Goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz. Bay players then collided and inadvertently knocked the ball into their own goal. There was a subsequent delay in the match as Silkowitz was treated for an injury.
Dudley later found her teammate, Midfielder Rose Lavelle for the second goal of the game in the 40th minute. Dudley became the fifth rookie to record an assist in the NWSL this season.
Gotham’s 3rd goal was a penalty kick by Forward Esther González during the first-half stoppage, after Lavelle was fouled in the penalty area by Bay Defender Maddie Moreau. It was González’s second goal of the season.
4x All-American and NCAA Division I Gymnast, Kyrstin Johnson kept the energy going on the field at half time as she performed a routine in the rain.
The second half was scoreless as players finished the cold wet matchup and Gotham held off the Bay until the game concluded in the late afternoon.
“Because of the rain, I think we actually played really good football,” said Gotham Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger about playing in Saturday’s weather. “We kept a lot of possessions.”
Berger had one save in the game. Gotham Coach Juan Carlos Amorós gave credit to his coaching staff in the press conference after the match. He said they stepped up to lead the team at times during the week when he was away to welcome his second child.
Norwegian professional footballer Forward Guro Reiten, from Chelsea FC, made her Gotham FC and NWSL debut on Saturday, as she started the game. She joined the team in March.
Gotham defeated the Washington Spirit in November to win the 2025 NWSL Championship last season. They currently sit at 8th in the NWSL after six matches played: two wins, two losses and two draws. They began the season on March 14 with a win over the Boston Legacy FC. They next play April 29 as they take on the Chicago Stars Fc on the road.
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