Sporting JAX cruised to a 3-0 victory at Lexington SC on Friday night, with Baylee DeSmit scoring twice and Kacey Smekrud opening the account in a dominant USL Super League performance.
Lexington held firm for the opening half hour before Smekrud broke the deadlock in the 31st minute, finishing from a Meg Hughes delivery to give the visitors a deserved lead. The hosts struggled to respond and were punished again just before halftime when DeSmit converted from an Ashlyn Puerta pass to double the advantage heading into the break.
Any hopes of a Lexington comeback were short-lived. Eight minutes into the second half, DeSmit and Puerta combined again — the same connection, the same result — as DeSmit netted her second to make it 3-0 and effectively end the contest.
Frustration crept into Lexington's game after that. Alyssa Bourgeois was booked a minute before the third goal, Sarah Griffith picked up a yellow in the 71st minute, and Taylor Aylmer followed into the referee's notebook late on in the 89th. Three bookings across the second half painted the picture of a side that had lost its composure after falling behind by three.
Sporting JAX, by contrast, managed the final stretch comfortably, never looking troubled as they saw out the remaining minutes without conceding a real scare.
The comprehensive away win bolsters Sporting JAX's standing in the USL Super League table and leaves Lexington SC searching for answers after a difficult evening at home.
USL Super League