Sun Struggle to Find Footing as Spokane Strikes Twice Before the Break
The opening half in Spokane belonged to the home side, who carried a two-goal advantage into the break. Tampa Bay Sun battled to find rhythm, yet found themselves tested by Zephyr’s pressing play and clinical moments in the final third.
Tampa Bay looked to strike back late in the half when head coach Denise Schilte-Brown introduced McKenna Battilla for Hannah Keane. Almost immediately, Battilla carved out a chance, latching onto a Sydny Nasello delivery inside the box, but her effort sailed high of the target. It was the Sun’s brightest glimpse of the first period and a sign of intent to respond.
The half closed with tension rising. A series of physical duels saw Jillian Shimkin dismissed for violent conduct just three minutes after the restart, reducing Tampa Bay to ten players. Soon after, Siena Bryan went into the referee’s book for a foul in midfield, forcing the Sun to manage discipline alongside the mounting scoreline…