Spokane Zephyr shut out Brooklyn in regular-season finale; Now they wait for postseason fate
May 16—It took two minutes for Spokane Zephyr to get their first goal without attempting a shot. And another 34 minutes for them to score their second. And it took 90 minutes for Zephyr to secure their largest margin of victory in their history in a 4-0 shutout against Brooklyn FC at ONE Spokane Stadium on Saturday.
Brooklyn surrendered an own goal in the first five minutes before either team got a shot off. In the second minute, Reese Tappan crossed to Katie Murray in the middle of the penalty box. Brooklyn defender Kristina Markovic attempted to intercept the pass, but instead tapped the ball into the frame.
"Getting a first goal really early, always helps just kind of relax the mood, the vibes of the game, and then also gives you the go ahead to have the confidence to score goals and play together," said midfielder Felicia Knox. For much of the period, possession was evenly split with Brooklyn holding the advantage at a 51. 6% rate.
Spokane and Brooklyn struggled to find any offensive production until Knox extended Zephyr's advantage to two in the 36th minute. Following a throw-in, Catherine Rapp found Knox at the top left corner of the penalty area. Knox curled Spokane's first shot attempt to the opposite side of the frame.
"The ball just kind of popped down perfectly, and I hit it. And as soon as it came off my foot, it felt like it was going in," Knox said. Spokane outshot Brooklyn 11-9, but it was the Zephyr's defense, which head coach Nicole Lukic said has been "our identity and a strength for us," that allowed zero attempts on target with 25 clearances led by Haley Thomas's seven.