Gotham FC Wraps Up West Coast Swing With Draw at Bay

Rose Lavelle scored for the second time in three games as Gotham FC played to a 1-1 draw at Bay FC on a sunny Sunday evening in California, extending the visitors’ unbeaten run to eight games across all competitions.

It was a seven-point road trip for Gotham FC, which topped San Diego in NWSL action on Sept. 12 before beating Vancouver Rise FC Academy in Concacaf W Champions Cup play this past Tuesday.

“The players have gone to the limit,” Amoros said. “We knew it was going to be a difficult challenge, this run of games. We left home almost two weeks ago. … It wasn’t our best game today, but it was another goal, another point, another gritty performance from the players.”

Gotham FC (8-6-7, 31 points) maintained its third-place position in the NWSL standings after fourth-place Portland and fifth-place San Diego tied on Saturday. The three teams have identical records, but Amorós’s side has the best goal differential of the bunch – plus-10 to Portland’s plus-six and San Diego’s plus-four.

At PayPal Park, Gotham struggled to find its usual connectivity, producing just 0.68 expected goals from four shots on target.

But Gotham’s world-class attacking duo of Lavelle and Esther González only needed a brief moment to produce the magic in the 36th minute that put their team ahead in the first half. After Gotham won the ball back in Bay’s half, González registered her first assist by curling a pass into Lavelle’s run to her left, and the U.S. Women’s National Team star slotted home a low finish in off the far post.

It was Lavelle’s third goal involvement (two goals, one assist) in the past four NWSL games.

Bay’s Rachael Kundananji delivered her own brilliant moment in the 68th minute, scoring from a curling effort 20 yards out to draw back level.

In a cagey match, those were the best opportunities for both teams, with Bay FC’s Maddie Moreau coming closest to a winner in the third and final minute of stoppage time.

Now Gotham FC returns home to Sports Illustrated Stadium to host the Portland Thorns on Friday. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET, with local coverage on MSG Networks and national streaming on NWSL+.

Key Match Points

• Gotham FC remains undefeated against Bay FC in every meeting (3W, 1D).
• Gotham FC is now unbeaten in its last five NWSL matchups, and in its last eight matches in all competitions – the team’s longest streak since an 11-game run from Sept. 5-Oct. 20, 2024.
• Gotham FC is now 4-0-1 in the regular season when Esther González records an assist, and 6-0-3 when Rose Lavelle scores a goal.
• Rose Lavelle scored her second goal of the season, her 18th career regular season goal and her ninth for Gotham FC.
  • The goal was Gotham’s ninth in the final 15 minutes of the first half this season, tied for second most in the NWSL.
• Esther González notched her first assist of the season with the connection to Rose Lavelle in the first half.
  • She has contributed to a goal in her last four road games (four goals, one assist).
• This was Ann-Katrin Berger’s 43rd straight start, tying Delanie Sheehan for the third-longest streak in Gotham history.
• Jaedyn Shaw made her first NWSL regular season start for Gotham FC.

Gotham FC at Bay FC

Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025

8:30 p.m. ET kickoff

PayPal Park, San Jose, California

Attendance: 11,193

Weather: 80 degrees, sunny

Gotham FC (1, 0 – 1)

Bay FC (0, 1 – 1)

Scoring Summary

Gotham FC

36’ - Rose Lavelle (Esther González)

Bay FC

69’ - Rachel Kundananji (Alyssa Malonson)

Gotham FC (4-3-3): 30 – Ann-Katrin Berger (GK); 3 – Bruninha, 6 – Emily Sonnett, 27 – Jess Carter, 4 – Lilly Reale (78’ 22 – Mandy Freeman); 7 – Jaelin Howell, 2 – Jaedyn Shaw (64’ 11 – Sarah Schupansky), 16 – Rose Lavelle (C) (78’ 28 – Katie Stengel); 23 – Midge Purce, 9 – Esther González, 10 – Geyse (46’ 18 — Gabi Portilho)

Unused substitutes: 1 – Shelby Hogan (GK); 5 — Josefine Hasbo, 19 – Kayla Duran, 21 — Sofia Cook, 34 – Khyah Harper

Head coach: Juan Carlos Amorós

Bay FC (4-3-3): 29 – Jordan Silkowitz (GK); 3 – Caprice Dydasco, 16 – Sydney Collins, 22 - Brooklyn Courtnall, 20 – Alyssa Malonson; 19 – Dorian Bailey (77’ 15 – Caroline Conti), 7 – Taylor Huff, 23 – Kiki Pickett; 21 – Rachel Hill (89’ 24 – Maddie Moreau), 5 – Karlie Lema (89’ 17 – Catherine Paulson), 12 – Tess Boade (C) (62’ 9 – Racheal Kundananji)

Unused substitutes: 32 – Emmie Allen (GK); 11 – Kelli Hubly, 14 – Jamie Shepherd, 41 – Hannah Bebar

Head coach: Albertin Montoya

Stats Summary

GFC / BAY

Expected Goals: 0.68 / 0.59

Shots: 12 / 8

Shots on Goal: 4 / 2

Saves: 3 / 1

Corners: 6 / 6

Fouls: 12 / 5

Offside: 2 / 2

Misconduct Summary:

Gotham FC

90+3’ Sarah Schupansky (Yellow Card - Reckless Offense)

Officials

Referee: Brad Jensen

Assistant Referee 1: Cameron Siler

Assistant Referee 2: Eric Krueger

4th Official: Jamie Padilla

VAR: Shawn Tehini

AVAR: Brian Marshall