Bay FC closes out first half of season with 2-1 road loss to Gotham FC

Bay FC closed the first half of the NWSL season Saturday night with a 2-1 loss to Gotham FC in Harrison, N.J.

Gotham (5-5-3) snapped a 1-1 tie when Geyse scored in the 55th minute on a right-footed shot from center of the box from an assist from Nealy Martin. It was Geyse’s second goal of the season.

Penelope Hocking gave Bay FC a 1-0 lead just 11 minutes into the match when she slammed in a shot from close range. Hannah Bebar assisted on the play. It was Hocking’s fourth goal in her last five games.

Gotham FC tied it at 1-1 when the NWSL’s leading scorer, Esther Gonzalez, got her 10th goal in 13 games this season.

Bay FC (4-6-3), which dropped its second straight league match, falls into 10th place in the standings, three points behind both Gotham and North Carolina, which are currently in an eighth-place tie for the eighth and final playoff spot.

“I thought we had another good performance this weekend. We probably deserved more than what we got, but that’s football,” said Bay FC coach Albertin Montoya. “It’s one of those games that you feel for them, because they put everything out there. As far as we continue believing and continue getting better, those results will come.”

Bay FC will return to action July 19, when Angel City FC visits PayPal Park for the first of the club’s summer series friendlies against the SoCal side followed by Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds July 27. NWSL regular season action will resume for Bay FC on Aug. 2 following the league’s summer break when Houston Dash makes its only scheduled visit to PayPal Park.