What an October for Brooklyn FC Women’s team, as they made their mark in the Gainbridge Super League, earning recognition in three different categories.
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Brooklyn FC Women celebrated the inclusion of four players in the Gainbridge Super League Team of the Month for October. Forward Catherine Zimmerman, midfielder Jilly Shimkin, and defender Lauren Gogal were all named to the Starting XI. Midfielder Jess Garziano was included on the bench. All four players were instrumental in helping Brooklyn go undefeated throughout October, with Shimkin, Gogal and Garziano playing every single minute in the month.
Zimmerman found the back of the net twice in three matches in October, including a crucial 90th minute winner against Tampa Bay Sun in a 1-0 victory on October 24. Also, Zimmerman scored the first goal in a 4-4 draw at Sporting Jacksonville.
She is the top scorer for the club this year and tied for sixth-most goals in the league, with four tallies to her credit. This is her second appearance in the Team of the Month, after being included on the bench in September.
Shimkin has been the creative spark for Brooklyn this season, with her standout performance coming in the 4-4 draw to host Sporting JAX.
Moreover, Shimkin made history in Florida, becoming the first player in Gainbridge Super League history to record three assists in a single match. When asked about the record, she responded, “I was happy to contribute in any way that I could.”
Additionally, Shimkin has created 21 chances, second most in the league, and maintained a 70 percent passing success rate, while playing 700 minutes over the course of the season. She has also been a threat in the defensive third, making five interceptions and winning 12 tackles, tied for the second-most on the team.
Gogal cemented her place on the Brooklyn back line, starting all four goals in October. Prior to this run of form, she had played just 45 minutes and made one appearance in the previous six natches. She made 34 clearances, four blocks, and three interceptions in these four matches, while also adding an assist in the 4-4 match at JAX. A corner kick crossed in from Shimkin found Gogal making a diving header at the back post, sending the ball back across goal before being headed in by teammate Jackie Richards. This was her first goal contribution for the team, having made only three appearances in the 2025/26 season due to injury.
Garziano was a constant presence for the club at the midfield position, with the third-most minutes played. As the longest-tenured member of the squad, she served as captain in the 1-1 draw against Dallas Trinity. In this match, Garziano also assisted the team’s only goal of the match, sending teammate Zee King down the left wing before a potent shot found the inside of the side netting. She was the first player in league history to be named Player of the Month, winning the award back in September 2024, and returns to the Team of the Month for October 2026 on the bench.
Coach of the Month
Brooklyn FC Women team’s head coach Alex Smith has been named the Gainbridge Super League Coach of the Month for October after leading the team to an unbeaten month, with a record of 2-2-0.
Smith guided the team as they moved up to sixth in the table and into contention for a late playoff push. They outscored foes 7-5 across the four matches in the month, earning two clean sheets during that span. The squad is also undefeated in their last four home matches and only lost once since September 13.
Brooklyn edged Fort Lauderdale United FC, 1-0, on October 2, drew 1-1 with Dallas Trinity FC on October 10, and then beat Tampa Bay Sun on October 24, all at home. They then ended the month with a 4-4 draw away at Sporting Jacksonville on Halloween. Smith becomes the second head coach in the club’s history to win the award, after Jess Silva won it back in December 2024.
For the first match of the month on October 2, Smith was away from the team as he completed his coaching badges and assistant coach Errol McFarlane took charge, leading the team to a 1-0 win at home. Smith credited his entire staff, saying, “It’s hard to convey the amount of work that’s been put in from everyone in the program, so this is as much a whole staff award as it is mine. It’s always nice to be recognized, and it shows that we are moving in the right direction.”
Goal of the Month
Brooklyn FC Women’s forward Tziarra “Zee” King has won the Gainbridge Super League Goal of the Month award for October, following her nomination on November 4. This accolade comes for her strike against Dallas Trinity FC on October 10.
King scored the only goal of the game for Brooklyn as they drew 1-1 with Dallas at home. She was sent running down the left wing by a through ball where she hesitated, took on her defender, gained some space and unleashed a powerful left-footed strike from the left side of the 18-yard box that found the side netting. Brooklyn FC celebrated Got Pink? Night in this match, and when asked about the goal, King said “(This goal is) more important than you know. This is something that hits really close to home for me. I was playing with a little extra stretch today and channeling all those battling and who have survived breast cancer.”
This was King’s second goal of the season for Brooklyn, and in the match she had two shots on target as well as winning four duels and three fouls for her side.
The Goal of the Month winner is decided by a fan vote conducted via the Gainbridge Super League’s official social media channels.
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Photo: Brooklyn FC Communcations.