For a night, Charlotte was tops in top flight soccer tables

STEVE GOLDBERG | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Jenna Butler was one of five Carolina Ascent players to tally a goal in a 5-0 win against Brooklyn FC on April 12.

For a few hours over the weekend, Charlotte was home to a pair of top tier professional soccer teams atop their respective tables. 

Charlotte FC was first to peak at the apex of the MLS Eastern Conference with a 1-0 win over CF Montreal on Pep Biel’s 16th-minute goal. It was their first road victory of the season and first-ever north of the border. With both Inter Miami and Columbus Crew playing on Sunday, it felt like a temporary visit to the rare air, and eventually it was, after about 24 hours.

“I like one-nil away from home,” said CLTFC coach Dean Smith. “I think it shows loads and loads of character.”

Technically level with FC Cincinnati on 16 points, Charlotte boasted a superior plus-6 goal differential to Cincinnati’s plus-1. A truly good sign for Dean Smith’s boys is that only Columbus and Miami are equal to that +6 GD in the East.

It lasted longer than expected. Undefeated Inter Miami was away to a new and improved Chicago Fire. For the first time this season, Miami did not bend the nets as the Second City held the Barcelona Beach Boys to a 0-0 draw and just one point in front of 62,358 at Soldier Field. That kept Miami one point behind the Crown.

Columbus traveled to St. Louis and it looked good for Charlotte when City scored in the sixth minute. But Columbus, especially with the addition of Daniel Gazdag from Philadelphia, are right up there with Miami as a team to beat this season, and the Crew came back with two goals to take three points and top the East with 18 points.

As for the brief perch at the top, Smith noted, “It just means that we’re up there competing with the best at the moment but, as we all know, there’s a long way to go so we’ll just take it game by game.”

A rose by any other name

When you’re the Ascent, climbing to the top is written into the team’s DNA. The first-year team in the startup USL Super League capped the mountain in their first-ever match and held the summit for 13 weeks before being humbled by three consecutive losses to close the first half of the season. 

They were already back on high when the weekend began on the strength of three straight clean sheet wins, which became four in a row on Saturday at American Legion Memorial Stadium with a 5-0 takedown of Brooklyn FC, the team that closed out the first half of the campaign atop the eight-team league.

After going 5-3-6 in the first 14 games before winter break, the Ascent are 6-2-1 since with five games to play in the regular season. After conceding eight goals in the first five matches since restarting on Feb. 15, Carolina has steeled their defense while unleashing the offensive hounds with 13 goals in four games. They have 40 points from 23 games, four ahead of Dallas through 22 matches. Brooklyn, Fort Lauderdale, and Tampa Bay all have 33 points as the top five fight to determine the four who will make the playoffs.

Coach Philip Poole had been pushing for his side to be better at closing out games with second, third, and fourth goals after establishing a lead and it’s crystal clear the message has been heard.

“We’ve just stuck to our task,” he said. “I give our players a lot of credit. They’re the ones that are putting the work in. They’re the ones that are holding each other accountable.”

Five different players found the net on Saturday and none of them were Mia Corbin, who was tied for the league scoring lead with nine goals going into the match. But her play illustrated the overall effort that’s making this team successful right now.

“Mia was a little under the weather tonight,” said Poole. “We know that Mia’s a top goal scorer. We know that Mia’s a top player, but you look at what Mia does on the other side of the ball. For me, that’s what sets her apart, the work rate she has and what she’s willing to do.”

Neither Addie McCain of Fort Lauderdale nor Allie Thornton of Dallas Trinity, also on nine apiece, scored over the weekend, so the trio are still in the race to 10. All three will be in action on Saturday with Dallas facing Fort Lauderdale at 5 p.m. and the Ascent hosting Spokane at 7 p.m.

Jenna Butler (17th minute), Addisyn Merrick (51st), Jill Aguilera (65th), Audrey Harding (69th), and B Hylton (81st) all scored for Carolina.

B-eautiful first goal

A highlight of the Ascent match was the first goal by B Hylton, who has moved up to regular rotation minutes coming off the bench from her pervious status as an academy contract player. Hylton, who has played for England’s U-19 women’s team last November – her father, former Charlotte Eagles player Andy Hylton hails from Essex, England – has shown steady growth and promise on the professional level.

“It means a lot to her,” Poole said. “But you see the sort of respect that she garners amongst her teammates. That’s a special moment for her, for a family, but for all of us. She’s one of our own from Charlotte, North Carolina, born and raised, you know, she’s right here. And, frankly, if we create an opportunity for one of our own, it makes it even more special.”

Finders keepers

As the former goalkeeper coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team, one would expect Poole to have a keen eye for shot stoppers. The Ascent were already in good hands there with Meagan McLelland, who led the league with six clean sheets in the first half of the season. 

Still, the team strengthened an already strong position by bringing on former North Carolina standout Samantha Leshnak-Murphy, who has taken over the starting spot since February. After backstopping the defense that gave up those eight goals, she now has four clean sheets. The combined 10 for the team leads the league. Carolina has conceded the fewest goals with 19 allowed.

Speaking of keeping the trust, Kristijan Kahlina continues to justify his 2024 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year honors, with some “Did you just see that!?” saves against Montreal.
With the help of his defenders, it was Kahlina’s third no-hitter this season and his 28th clean sheet overall with Charlotte. On the other end of the pitch, Biel’s tally was his third of the year. He also leads the team with five assists.

By the numbers

Along with the stingiest defense, a hallmark of Charlotte FC as well, the Ascent lead the league with 35 scored, one more than Dallas. Fifteen different players have scored 32 of the goals, nine at least twice. The other three were own goals.

For those who believe it is better to give than receive, Aguilera is level with three other players for the league lead in assists with 5, Harding is just behind her with four. Rylee Baisden and Taylor Porter have three apiece. 

Charlotte FC has put 13 into the net, tied for fifth in MLS scoring as a team. Vancouver leads with 17. Saturday’s opponent San Diego has 15 and allowed nine so that bodes for an interesting matchup.

Nine different players have scored for the Crown, led by Biel’s three. Wilfried Zaha has two. Biel’s five assists are level with San Jose’s Cristian Espinoza for tops in MLS. 

Local fans won’t be able to see the Ascent and Charlotte FC play live this weekend. Because of scheduling, the Ascent game on Saturday will go up against the Charlotte FC-San Diego match. The blame on sits squarely on USL Super League, which isn’t allowing a time change.

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