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Georgia Bulldogs Defeat Florida Gators 27–8 in Atlanta
Georgia Bulldogs Defeat Florida Gators 27–8 in Atlanta
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Sporting JAX Women Fight Back for a Point Against Brooklyn FC
Sporting JAX Women Fight Back for a Point Against Brooklyn FC
Brooklyn FC goalkeeper Breanna Norris (1) batting away the ball against Sporting Club Jacksonville during the first half of a Gainbridge Super League soccer match on Saturday, October 31, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fl. (Photo/Michael Hornstein)
Jacksonville, Fla. — Sporting JAX recovered from two deficits to draw Brooklyn FC 4-4 at Hodges Stadium on Saturday, earning a point while exposing defensive problems that put the home side under pressure.
Brooklyn took a 2-0 lead in the opening 25 minutes. Sporting JAX responded through Baylee DeSmit, who headed in Grace Phillpotts’ free kick, and Paige Kenton, who capitalized on a failed clearance in the 33rd minute to level the score.
Kenton credited the response to the team’s attacking belief. “We see it every day in practice. We know we can score goals,” she said. “Our cohesion up front is outstanding.”
That confidence showed in Sporting’ JAX's ability to create goals and recover momentum. But the comeback was necessary because Brooklyn scored twice early and twice soon after halftime, restoring a two-goal advantage. The repeated concessions left Sporting JAX chasing the game rather than controlling it.
Ashlyn Puerta began the second rally by converting a 67th-minute penalty after Kenton drew a foul in the box. Puerta then finished a move involving Kenton in the 80th minute to make it 4-4. The goal took Puerta to eight for the season, level with DeSmit.
Puerta said the pair had worked to rebuild their connection after illness affected both earlier in the season. “We’ve been really working in training, finding each other and getting back into that groove,” she said.
Two multi-goal comebacks was not anything that Head Coach Stacey Balaam had seen in her career, as she pointed out postmatch. While it’s not what she hoped to see, she praised the team’s effort while noting repeated comebacks are not sustainable. “I don’t want to make it a trend because it’s always an uphill climb when you down a goal or two goals,” she said.
Sporting JAX pushed for a winner in the closing minutes, pressuring Brooklyn's defense, but settled for the draw. While rallying from two multi-goal deficits demonstrates resilience and fortitude, relying on high-scoring shootouts to salvage results is an unsustainable long-term strategy. Addressing tracking errors and defensive organization should be the primary focus on the training pitch if Sporting JAX is to to control matches rather than chasing them.
Sporting JAX returns to Hodges Stadium on Sunday, November 15 at 5 p.m. to take on DC Power FC.
North Florida Ospreys Secures 86-74 Victory Over Virgin Islands in Exhibition Opener
North Florida Ospreys Secures 86-74 Victory Over Virgin Islands in Exhibition Opener
Jacksonville, Fla. — The University of North Florida men’s basketball team opened its 2026-27 schedule on Wednesday night at UNF Arena, earning an 86-74 victory over the University of the Virgin Islands Buccaneers. The exhibition contest offered a first look at an updated Ospreys roster featuring several new transfers and freshmen making their home debuts under Head Coach Bobby Kennen.
North Florida established an early rhythm inside, using paint touches and transition layups to build a 20-9 lead in the opening half. The Buccaneers responded with a 12-2 run over the next ten minutes, closing the gap to 22-21 by disrupting UNF’s set plays and forcing perimeter turnovers. North Florida held a 36-33 advantage at halftime after both teams traded points through the closing minutes of the period.
The second half featured tight exchanges as Virgin Islands maintained contact on the scoreboard. North Florida broke the game open late in the period behind a series of conversion possessions from behind the arc. The perimeter surge allowed the Ospreys to push their lead back into double digits and seal the 12-point win.
Mason Watkins paced the Ospreys with 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists on 11-of-13 shooting. The Buccaneers,guard Isaiah Gill-Wilson tied Watkins for leading scorer with 26 points while pulling down 15 rebounds. Ayuba Bryant Jr. (North Florida) added 13 points and 9 rebounds.
The contest provided early indications of UNF’s tactical structure for the upcoming season. The roster showed deliberate spacing on offense, though offensive continuity varied across line rotations as new contributors acclimated to game speed. Transfer guards Eddie Placer, Elijah Elliott, and Hedrens Bartelus, along with transfer forward Ayuba Bryant Jr., saw their first minutes in an Osprey uniform. Freshmen Chris Perry and Asa Kohn also made their collegiate debuts.
University of North Florida guard Mason Watkins (No. 0) driving on a University of the Virgin Islands defender during an exhibition baskeball game on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at UNF Arena in Jacksonville, FL. (Photo/Michael Hornstein)
Sporting JAX Falls to Tampa Bay in Finale, Wrapping Up Challenging Inaugural Season
Sporting JAX Falls to Tampa Bay in Finale, Wrapping Up Challenging Inaugural Season
Sporting Jax defender Edgardo Rito (12) going for the ball against Tampa Bay Rowdies midfielder Sebastian Cruz (30) during the first half of a USL Cup soccer match on Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fl. (Photo/Michael Hornstein)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Sporting Club Jacksonville closed out its debut campaign in the USL Championship on Saturday night with a 2-0 loss against in-state rival Tampa Bay Rowdies at Al Lang Stadium. Goals from Karsen Henderlong in the first half and Marco Micaletto in the 82nd minute sealed the result for the hosts, handing the Jacksonville squad a loss on the final day of the season.
The loss brought an end to a difficult inaugural year for Sporting JAX. The club finished at the bottom of the USL Championship’s Eastern Conference, recording 3 wins, 22 losses, and 5 draws across 30 league fixtures. Defense proved to be the team's primary vulnerability, as Sporting JAX gave up a conference-high 76 goals without securing a clean sheet all season.
A fair assessment of the season requires looking beyond the win-loss column and match statistics. Launching an expansion franchise in a highly competitive league like the USL Championship presents difficult operational and roster-building hurdles. Sporting JAX displayed moments of attacking promise and consistently showed strong squad camaraderie, but individual errors, lapses in defensive concentration and a lack of depth frequently undermined their performances over 90 minutes.
Speaking after Saturday's match, head coach Liam Fox reflected on the lessons learned during the club's inaugural year: “First years are always difficult in the Championship and new franchise, new people,” Fox said. “We’ve learnt a huge amount; it’s now time to reflect, look back, make sure we learn our lessons, and then we can start to look forward to next season with some optimism and off the back of these lessons we’ve learned.”
Sporting JAX team captain Ryan Edwards echoed Fox's comments. “It’s been obviously not the season we wanted or expected, but [there were] a couple of good moments in there,” Edwards said. “Hopefully the club builds on it now and going forward and come back stronger next year and come back fighting and hopefully be at the right end of the table.”
To transform into a contender in 2027, Sporting JAX needs to implement structural upgrades during the offseason. Fortifying the backline and signing an experienced defensive midfielder will be vital to improving their goals for-and-against ratio. And improving tactical discipline during set pieces and being able to finish up front should help turn competitive matches into points. Front-office management appears committed to building a successful franchise, with plans in the works for a 15,000 seat multi-purpose stadium near St. Johns Town Center on Jacksonville's Southside. If during the off-season management can surround their core talent with veteran USL leadership, Sporting JAX will be better equipped for its sophomore campaign.
Ashlyn Puerta Scores Four Goals to Set Gainbridge Super League Record in Sporting JAX Victory
Ashlyn Puerta Scores Four Goals to Set Gainbridge Super League Record in Sporting JAX Victory
Sporting Jax midfielder Ashlyn Puerta (10) scoring on a penalty kick against Ft. Lauderdale United during the first half of a Gainbridge Super League soccer match on Friday, October 16 2026, at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville, Fl.. (Photo/Michael Hornstein)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Midfielder Ashlyn Puerta scored four goals on Friday night to lead Sporting JAX to a 4-1 victory over Fort Lauderdale United FC at Hodges Stadium. With her four-goal performance, the nineteen-year-old set the record for the most goals scored by a single player in a Gainbridge Super League match.
Fort Lauderdale United FC opened the scoring in the eighth minute to take an initial lead. Sporting JAX responded in the 23rd minute when forward Paige Kenton drew a foul inside the penalty box. Puerta converted the resulting penalty kick to equalize the match prior to halftime. Less than fifteen minutes into the second half, Puerta gave Sporting JAX the lead.
Puerta added a third goal by forcing a turnover, taking possession from the Fort Lauderdale defense, and driving a shot past the defender to extend the advantage. Substitute forward Andrea Fernandez assisted Puerta’s fourth goal of the evening, which finalized the 4-1 scoreline.
"It was just clicking," Puerta said following the match. "We've just been waiting for this day and waiting for the connection to come back and it did today." The victory marked a return to form for Sporting JAX after an extended break in schedule. Puerta also highlighted the overall performance across the lineup during post-game remarks.b"It was a great overall team performance by us," Puerta said. "Offensively and defensively, we were just all over it tonight."
Head Coach Stacey Balaam addressed Puerta's achievement after the final whistle. "For Ash to score four goals, big night for her tonight," Balaam said. "She's capable of it, but for her, [it's] really special and it really lifts the team."
Sporting JAX will host Brooklyn FC next at Hodges Stadium on October 31.
Late Stoppage Time Goal Hands Sporting JAX 1-0 Loss to Indy Eleven
Sporting Jax forward Emil Jääskeläinen (16) going against Indy Eleven defenders during the second half of a USL Championship League soccer match on Saturday, August 15, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fl. (Photo/Michael Hornstein)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Sporting Club Jacksonville suffered a 1-0 home defeat against Eastern Conference opponent Indy Eleven on Saturday night at Hodges Stadium. The USL Championship fixture remained scoreless through ninety minutes of regulation before a late concession decided the match in favor of the visitors.
Both sides generated opportunities throughout the evening, but defensive shape and consistent Goalkeeping kept the scoreline empty during the opening half. Sporting JAX goalkeeper Jake McGuire recorded four saves across the match to keep his side level. His primary defensive effort came in the 39th minute when he denied an Indy Eleven header following a set-piece delivery to maintain a 0-0 tie entering the halftime interval.
The second half featured additional adjustments from both squads as managers utilized their tactical substitutions to generate momentum. Defender Marcus Godinho made his club debut for Sporting JAX, playing the entire ninety minutes along the backline to limit Indy Eleven's open-play chances.
The game reached its conclusion during second-half stoppage time. In the 92nd minute, Indy Eleven forced a final attack that resulted in an own goal credited against Sporting JAX defender Antonio Gomez. The deflection routed the ball past McGuire, breaking the deadlock moments before the referee blew the final whistle.
The result earned Indy Eleven three points on the road, while Sporting JAX walked away empty-handed despite holding the opposition scoreless through regular time. Sporting JAX will take to the road for the next two matches, the first of which being a showdown with Birmingham Legion FC on Saturday, August 22. Following is another away match with Brooklyn FC on August 29 in New York.
Cameron Young Wins the 2026 Players Championship
Scottie Scheffler at the 2026 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. The tournament was won by Cameron Young of the United States on Sunday, March 15, 2026. (Photo/Michael Hornstein)
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. — Cameron Young won the 2026 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, defeating Matt Fitzpatrick by one shot. Young finished at 13-under-par 275 after rounds of 68, 67, 72, and 68
Young, a 28-year-old American and former Wake Forest player, secured his second PGA Tour title, following his win at the Wyndham Championship the previous season. In the final round, Young and Fitzpatrick, playing in the penultimate pairing, both carded 68s. Young birdied the par-3 17th island green with a 57-degree wedge to 9½ feet and a birdie putt, catching Fitzpatrick. On the 18th, Young hit a 375-yard drive—the longest recorded there since 2004—setting up a par.
Fitzpatrick, the 2022 U.S. Open champion, bogeyed the 18th after his chip fell short and he missed an 8-foot par putt, ending at 12-under 276. Xander Schauffele placed third at 11-under, followed by Robert MacIntyre at 10-under. J.J. Bridgeman and S. Yellamaraju tied for fifth at 9-under.
The tournament featured a $25 million purse, with Young earning $4.5 million. Fitzpatrick received $2.225 million. Yellamaraju moved from 216th to 145th in the Official World Golf Ranking and earned $925,000.
Young played bogey-free on the back nine in the final round to secure the win.
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