Gotham FC had to dig deep to earn a hard-fought road victory over Bay FC on Wednesday night. Especially on an occasion where opposition goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz moved heaven and earth to keep Bay FC in the game.
After Midge Purce’s second-minute goal, Bay FC threw everything at the Bats’ back line, but Gotham escaped PayPal Park with a clean sheet.
While Gotham needed all 11 starters and five substitutes to grind out the 1-0 victory, experienced defender Jess Carter led the way with a standout performance.
“I think tonight Jess had a really good game and she really showed her class, defending not just off the ball, but on the ball as well,” acting head coach Shaun Harris explained.
“Making the right decisions, trying to find the connections, and really calming the team down in certain areas and recognizing the different momentums of the game.
“She’s a world-class player, and it’s something that we really rely on, especially when the game’s tight.”
Carter played in her 50th career NWSL regular-season game.
Shelby Hogan Earns Shutout With Berger Rested
Harris opted to rotate the goalkeeper position by handing a start to backup Shelby Hogan, and the 28-year-old keeper responded by recording a shutout performance.
“Yeah, I think Shelby was excellent,” Harris stated. “Obviously, you know, first game for a while, and we just gave her some really clear, simple instructions.
“Ultimately, we know what her strengths are, and just making sure that she understands certain situations in the game. I think she executed the game plan really well in terms of what we asked her to do. It’s really, it’s really good to see players come in and get minutes and get a positive performance. So we’re really happy with Shelby.”
Harris explained that No. 1 goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger needed a rest.
“She’s played a lot, and we just needed to give her a little bit of a rest,” Harris said of Berger.
Torres Makes First Gotham Appearance Since September 2025
Midfielder Taryn Torres entered the match in the 87th minute. Torres was activated from the season-ending injury list on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old had been previously sidelined since she suffered a torn left ACL injury in a September 2025 training session.
“We’re all super, super proud of her,” Hogan said. “I think we were able to see a lot of the work she put in behind the scenes, so I think having her come back after so long is going to be huge for the team’s overall success.”
“We were so excited for T,” midfielder Jaelin Howell said. “She is such a great player, but also such a great human being and teammate. That was a really special moment for her.
“I think for everybody to see the hard work that she’s put in for these past 11 months. It’s really tough being away from the team and then grinding your way back into the team. She’s done a fantastic job with that, and we’re all really proud of her, and we’re so excited to have her back in, and so it was a special moment for everybody.”
Howell took part in her 100th career NWSL match.
Gotham FC will finish their road trip on Saturday when they visit the Houston Dash. Saturday’s contest is scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
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