Lema's first career brace powers Bay FC over Courage 3-0

SAN JOSE — Karlie Lema is on fire at the right time for her team.

The Bay FC striker recorded her first career brace during a 3-0 shutout win over the North Carolina Courage on a picture-perfect Saturday afternoon at PayPal Park.

It was just the club's second brace in franchise history. The other was by forward Racheal Kundananji back on November 3rd, 2024, against the Houston Dash in a 3-2 win by Bay to that clinched the squad's first ever playoff berth during its inaugural season.

Bay FC came into the match six points behind the eighth place and final playoff spot Courage. They have earned seven points with two wins and one draw in three matches since coming back from the summer break. It's been a reset, not a rebirth according to head coach Emma Coates, that Bay has benefitted from with the team's confidence gaining momentum with each match.

"I wouldn't call it a rebirth," said Coates on the team's points streak. "Because I think if you were to watch all our games before we're trying to develop a style of playing and identity, and I think what happens when you got that, you've got to breed like clarity in the way we want to do things. Once you've bred clarity, you have to then start breeding confidence."

Bay goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz reiterated her coach's point mentioning after the match how the team focused on the details that were missing during the first half.

"I think the break gave us time to really like hone in on the details," said Silkowitz. "A big thing for us has been like being the best in both boxes defensively and attacking. And I think, obviously, back-to-back shutouts, back-to-back wins, scoring a lot of goals, especially to start this like second block has been huge for us and a really big focus and credit to the group. We put so much time and effort into it, and you can see everyone really picking up on those details and they're paying off."

The day belonged to Lema who came within inches of a hat trick when her shot from 20 yards out caromed off of the right post in the sixth minute. Her first shot of the game was a foreshadowed of how the afternoon would go for both teams. Bay FC was able to exploit North Carolina's high press early and create counterattacks with long balls taking advantage with their speed and size.

Lema's first goal came in the 15th minute. Kundananji made a simple pass out to midfield that sprung Lema as she raced between two Courage defenders collecting the ball in the middle before getting Courage goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan to come out and challenge her with a diving attempt. Lema got around Sheridan before driving home a right-footed shot into the far corner for her third goal of the season.

Then less than three minutes later in the 17th minute, Lema recorded her brace with her easiest goal of the season thanks to a great individual effort by forward Alex Pfeiffer. Once again, a long ball started the counter for Bay with Pfeiffer getting behind the defense down the right wing. The 18-year-old rookie drew two Courage defenders to her before crossing the ball into the middle of the box where unmarked Lema tapped home the ball into the back of the net past Sheridan for her team-leading fourth goal of the season.

All of Lema's goals have come in the past three matches as she has found her groove at the right time for the second year forward out of Cal.

I think she's been brilliant," Coates said of Lema's recent play. "I think when we first came, obviously at the start of the year, it felt she was sort of maybe not as confident playing within herself, and she just looks even the way that she's holding herself. You know, shoulders back, chin up, and her decision making in the game, and she just looks like she's played with such freedom and confidence. So long, may it continue."

Lema said one of the things the team talked about during the break was bringing the energy to start the matches. It has been on display since returning from the summer break with the team's passion and enthusiasm on the pitch.

"I think we talked about starting the second block off strong and bringing the energy, and I think you know we've been doing that, and yeah, it's nice to put goals or balls in the back of the net, and just yeah, I'm looking to continue doing that," Lema said.

What did she think of being the second player to score a brace in the franchise history? Lema with her cool, calm demeanor took it all in stride.

"I think it's so cool, and you know, to have this team like help me do that is just amazing. And like I said, we we've came into the second block with energy, and we're going to continue that. So yeah, I'm excited to keep going." Lema said.

Kundananji completed the scoring in the 54th minute thanks to a gift from the North Carolina backline. Uno Shiragaki's back pass into the box was intercepted by Kundananji and she methodically buried the ball into the back of the net for her second goal of the season. It was that kind of day for the Courage where everything that could have went wrong did, and everything that could've went right for Bay did as well. Coates mentioned that she had an inkling her team was going to dominate the match even before she arrived at the stadium.

"I have a rule that I'm not allowed to sort of say in the warmup it feels like we're going to win or that feel like they're in a good place. Or you wake up in the morning. I think yeah, I never say it out loud because the one time I did it was at Gotham (FC) and that didn't go so well. So no, I have a rule that I don't say it, but you could feel it. You could feel it even just on the driving the way into the stadium," Coates said.

Not to be overshadowed, Silkowitz recorded her franchise record seventh clean sheet of her career and third this season. Bay's back six did an excellent job defending in front of their goalkeeper. They limited chances from Courage star forward Ashley Sanchez and were able to draw North Carolina offsides multiple times throughout the match. Silkowitz was quick to credit her teammates with the success she's been having this season.

"I think that's something we've really worked on is controlling the depth of our back line, and obviously North Carolina is a super dynamic," said Silkowitz. "They've front five and the way they attack, and they've been on a hot streak as well. So, obviously, coming into this game, we we knew that the fluidity that they bring, and so much credit to the people in front of me. They did a great job with bumping runs, holding that line, the communication on the backside. You guys can't always hear it, but I think Maddie Moreau was incredible with that and holding the line and setting that. And so, they just did a fantastic job for 90 plus minutes.

There are 16 matches remaining in Bay's regular season and with a lot of soccer still left to be played, this team is primed to make a run into a playoff spot. The break has provided them with a new focus and a new spark as the potential of the squad is just scratching the surface on what it believes it can achieve going forward.

Bay FC steps back out on the road when the visit the Houston Dash on Saturday July 24 at 5:00pm at Shell Energy Stadium.