Brooklyn spoils the party on night Sun unveil championship banner

Earlier this week, Sun players received their rings from last season’s title run, which ended with a dramatic extra-time victory over Fort Lauderdale in June.

The celebration continued Wednesday night at Suncoast Credit Union Field, as the Sun officially became the first professional women’s sports team in Tampa to raise a championship banner, a milestone in a city already rich with titles.

“The banner is something that belongs there,” said head coach Denise Schilte-Brown. “Tampa Bay is a winning city.”

Added defender Brooke Hendrix, “It’s not every day that you win a championship, especially in the first year.”

There was no better evidence than the match that followed, as Brooklyn quickly spoiled the party with a 3-0 win that dropped the Sun to 2-8-9 in their second season in the first-division Super League.

Brooklyn wasted no time jumping ahead, scoring on Rebecca Cooke’s header just six minutes into the match. The goal set the tone for what followed, Schilte-Brown said.

“We allowed them to control the tempo of the game for the first 10 minutes,” she said. “This matchup for us has been a disaster every time we played Brooklyn.”

The problems only continued for the Sun, who fell further behind when Catherine Zimmerman scored in the 47th minute to send Brooklyn into the half up 2-0.

Any hopes of a comeback faded in the 56th minute, when Hope Breslin scored to give Brooklyn a three-goal lead.

The Sun, who entered the match searching for consistency, continue to do so.

“It was just mental errors, which we haven’t seen from the ladies too often,” Schilte-Brown said.

Hendrix acknowledged a lack of urgency early on, which cost the Sun.

“We needed to take a little bit more risks and be more aggressive,” she said. “We should’ve started like that from the beginning. Honestly, we have nothing to lose now, so we really need to go for it.”

Frustration boiled over late in the match. After Brooklyn’s Mylena Freitas pulled down Sun forward Sydny Nasello, Freitas kicked the ball into Nasello’s face as the referee was issuing a yellow card.

Nasello didn’t hold back when asked about the moment.

“I thought it was a dirty play,” she said. “I talked to the referee, and he basically said, ‘Yeah, it was dirty, but not enough for a red (card).’”

Added Nasello, “I don’t really know what that’s all about.”

Despite the result, Schilte-Brown said the Sun will continue to battle for its fans.

“I do have to say to the Tampa Bay Sun fans and the Heatwave (supporters group) that we are so proud and thankful that they’re continuing to support us and be here and turn out,” the coach said.

“I know it’s not easy to support a team that isn’t scoring goals or winning games, and we’re gonna work our ass off to turn that around. Your belief and our belief in ourselves, that confidence, it can drive something special.”

The championship banner now displayed above their homefield is proof.

“That’s such a cool moment, to be a part of the first-ever women’s professional team here and see that banner raised,” said Nasello, a Land O’ Lakes native. “That’s something that the team will remember for the rest of their lives.”