Sporting Jax women's returning stars may spark title chase. Here's why

When head coach Stacey Balaam and Sporting Club Jacksonville went to work assembling their roster for Northeast Florida's second season of professional women's soccer, one pattern stood out: Don't mess with success.

That's why the players dashing around the training field today are many of the same athletes who led the inaugural charge a year ago.

"The majority of them have come back, they've had a year under their belt, they know the expectations, they know the standards that we've set," Balaam said. "So I think it's vitally important that we build off that foundation."

Building off that foundation begins Saturday for Sporting Jax, which travels to Fort Lauderdale United for the 7:30 p.m. Aug. 15 kickoff of its second Gainbridge Super League women's soccer season.

Last year meant laying the foundation. This time, it's already in place.

"We were all trying to learn on the job last year," she said. "Everybody was new and still getting to know each other. We didn't know who our best 11 [lineup] was until maybe five or six games in."

Although several contributors from the spring have moved on, Sporting Jax retained most of last year's roster. In all, 16 players return, including three double-figure scorers: Baylee DeSmit, Paige Kenton and player of the year Ashlyn Puerta.

"The chemistry within this team is great," defender Grace Phillpotts said. "Knowing each other's strengths and weaknesses, we can play off that and make each other better."

Unlike the full-length inaugural campaign, Sporting Jax is taking on a shortened 14-game "sprint season" — seven games at home at the University of North Florida's Hodges Stadium, seven on the road — as the Super League prepares its transition to a spring-to-fall calendar in 2027.

A July training trip to England and Wales and an Aug. 7 scrimmage against Florida State's women's team has helped bring the seven newcomers on the 23-player roster up to speed.

"Definitely learning the system, that's been a little bit difficult," midfielder Mya Swinton said. "But Coach Stacey and Coach Alan [Kirkup] have done a wonderful job of getting me into that system."

The goal now is to write a different ending for last season's story. Sporting Jax led through nearly the entire second half before Lexington SC caught them on the season's final day, and Carolina Ascent FC eliminated them in the semifinal.

"We feel like if we don't do that [return to the playoffs], that's an underachievement now," Balaam said. "But we also want to improve little things and statistically from where we were last year, goals conceded and things like that."

Goalkeeping

Who's back: Last year's keeper duo of Kaitlyn Parks and Jamie Gerstenberg will be back in Jacksonville, with Parks coming off leaguewide honors in year one.

What's new: Amanda Poorbaugh arrives for her rookie season out of Penn State.

What to watch: Not every keeper has Parks' skill in possession or her composure venturing far from her goal line, and it's become a key ingredient in Sporting Jax's possession-heavy tactics.

Defense

Who's back: The entire end-of-season back three returns with Grace Phillpotts and Maggie Illig flanking Scotland national team defender Georgia Brown in a unit that improved significantly after the season's first two months.

What's new: Former University of Portland defender Keeley Dockter arrives after a short stint with the NWSL's Seattle Reign, and Ginger Fontenot, who may also feature at wingback, arrives from the now-inactive Spokane Zephyr.

What to watch: Does the defense have enough depth in case of injuries or Brown's national team call-ups? Good news is the return of Parker Roberts, who stepped into the back line on occasion after her ACL recovery.

Midfield

Who's back: Super League player of the year Ashlyn Puerta returns to give Sporting Jax an instant scoring threat and the ability to create those special moments around the box. Also back are team captain and reliable holding midfielder Sophie Jones and link-up midfielder Sophia Boman, as well as team assist co-leader Meg Hughes and Caroline Murray on the outside.

What's new: Sporting Jax welcomes newly-arrived additions from the college ranks with Melina Descary (South Alabama), Mya Swinton (West Florida) and Maci Teater (Vanderbilt). Coco Thistle and academy midfielder Presley Cason, both midseason additions, are in the mix as well.

What to watch: The center looks thoroughly stable, but finding the ideal mix in the physically and tactically demanding outside positions of Sporting Jax's 3-5-2 will be a key priority for Balaam.

Attack

Who's back: Sporting Jax returns both Baylee DeSmit and Paige Kenton, who scored in double figures last year in a tandem that really picked up speed in the second half. Their passing rhythm meshed nicely with Puerta's dribbling raids to lead Jacksonville to a league-high 54 team goals.

What's new: Former TCU attacker AJ Hennessey, also likely to see time in midfield, adds to the mix around the net.

What to watch: If Sporting Jax needs a late goal, look for Andrea Fernandez to get the call. The former Flagler College striker has been finishing nicely in preseason.

SPORTING JAX WOMEN'S SOCCER FALL ROSTER

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Sporting Jax women's returning stars may spark title chase. Here's why