Gotham FC are fighting for the NWSL Shield and are currently on a club-record 11-match home unbeaten run, but defender Jess Carter found herself frustrated with her individual performance following Friday’s 3-1 victory over Chicago Stars FC.
The 28-year-old England international, who prides herself on exceptional positioning and one-on-one defending, admitted that she was “royally mad” after she failed to make a clearance in the 87th minute, which led to Chicago midfielder Tessa Dellarose ending Gotham’s shutout bid.
Carter’s Accountability Exemplifies Gotham FC’s Championship Mentality
Without any member of the press pointing out the mistake, the highly decorated defender admitted her responsibility for the late goal against. It’s rare to see Carter put a foot wrong across 90 minutes, and it’s even rarer for her not to take ownership when she knows that she’s capable of better.
“As a defender, I’m royally mad at the goal that we conceded,” Carter said during Friday’s postmatch press conference at Sports Illustrated Stadium. “I take a lot of responsibility for that. When you get 3-0 up sometimes, it’s easy to get a little bit complacent. I played a huge part in that lack of a clearance. I’m very mad at that.”
Had Gotham seen out the shutout, Carter’s fiancée, goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger would have stood alone among NWSL netminders with a league-best 11 shutouts.
“I don’t think Ann’s getting that clean sheet bonus,” Carter said. “But I’m really happy with the team performance. Everyone did really great.”
Given that Gotham moved one step closer to winning the Shield and have allowed the league’s fewest goals (20 through 26 games), it would be understandable if Carter shrugged off a late goal conceded that didn’t affect the outcome of Friday’s contest, but that’s not in her nature.
That never-settle mentality of Carter and her teammates has guided Gotham to the top of the NWSL standings and the league’s best defensive record while positioning the Bats to potentially complete a treble.
How Gotham’s ‘Always Building, Never Finished’ Motto Is Embodied Throughout the Club
Gotham FC’s players, its technical staff, sporting staff and ownership often repeat the club’s motto: “always building, never finished.”
No one at the club ever gets too high when things are going well. There’s always an undercurrent of self-improvement within the reigning NWSL champions‘ dressing room and offices.
One example of that demand for excellence occurred earlier in the season when star forward Sam Kerr was displeased with her performance in a 2-2 away draw against Portland Thorns FC on July 24.
The 32-year-old striker knew that she was capable of reaching a higher standard even though she had scored in the match.
“I’m obviously happy to score and help the team, but I expect more from myself,” Kerr said at the time. “So I wasn’t too happy with how I played. Quite disappointing, to be honest.”
Lately, Kerr has raised her level. She has contributed one goal and three assists while helping Gotham roll off three straight victories. On Friday, the Australian international scored a 50th-minute header from a perfectly placed Guro Reiten cross.
Gotham’s Championship Culture Has the Bats Chasing a Treble
Though Kerr’s form has improved, she won’t be resting on her laurels any time soon. She’s going to focus her mindset on scoring a brace, and if she accomplishes that, she’ll be seeking a hat trick because constantly striving for more from yourself and your teammates is the Gotham way.
The hunger shown by veterans like Carter and Kerr isn’t a unique characteristic embodied by two players. It’s baked into the club’s DNA. That’s why it wouldn’t be surprising if Gotham claims its first NWSL Shield and repeats as NWSL champions to go along with May’s NWSL Challenge Cup triumph.
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