Sporting JAX cruised to a 4–1 victory over Fort Lauderdale United FC in USL Super League action on Friday night, powered by four goals from Ashlyn Puerta in the 24th, 57th, 74th, and 84th minutes. Sh'nia Gordon had the lone reply for Fort Lauderdale, scoring early in the eighth minute.
It was the visitors who struck first. Gordon latched onto a ball from Kiara Locklear and converted to give Fort Lauderdale United a 1–0 lead just eight minutes in. For a spell, it looked like Sporting JAX might be rattled at home.
That didn't last. Puerta equalized in the 24th minute to level the match before halftime, and the second half belonged entirely to her and to JAX. She restored the hosts' advantage in the 57th minute, finishing from a Meg Hughes delivery to make it 2–1. From there, Fort Lauderdale had no answer.
Puerta completed her hat trick in the 74th minute, putting the result beyond doubt. She wasn't done. Ten minutes later, Andrea Fernández set her up for a fourth, capping a ruthless individual display that Fort Lauderdale's backline simply could not contain.
Alyssa Hennessey picked up a yellow card for Sporting JAX in the 69th minute, but it did nothing to disrupt the hosts' momentum during a dominant second-half performance.
Four goals from a single player in any professional match is rare — and Puerta's haul will make the rest of the league take notice as Sporting JAX look to build on a commanding home result heading deeper into the season.
USL Super League