A new day as the Carolina Ascent start second season

CAROLINA ASCENT

The Carolina Ascent embark on their second Gainbridge Super League campaign Aug. 30 against Fort Lauderdale.

Is it an accident of fate or a scheduling algorithm that the Carolina Ascent will face Fort Lauderdale United in their opener on Saturday? If you’re the Gainbridge Super League powers that be, probably not.

This one has all the ingredients of a Shakespearean play. Let's set the scene.

The Ascent were the best team in GSL over the course of the inaugural season in every aspect but one. After winning the first game in league history before a still-record attendance, and 11 straight without a loss, including that game, they dominated the team stats, earned a cornucopia of individual honors, and were honored as regular-season champions with the Players’ Shield. 

Even though both sides boasted two wins in their four regular-season matchups, Carolina was dominant in the spring, equaling Brooklyn’s previous six-game winning streak. But a three-week break before the last three games of the regular season dulled the blade, and the Ascent lost their edge with two draws and a loss heading into their semifinal.

Coming on at halftime, Kathrynn Gonzalez scored her first and only goal of the season on a clever on-touch pass from Rylee Baisden in the 55th minute to give the Ascent the lead. Then came the drama in the 68th minute after a referee’s indecisiveness mistakenly gave Fort Lauderdale a throw-in at the top of their defensive third. As the Ascent players were waiting for the ref to correct her mistake, United took the throw and launched a long kick from the right touchline over the top of the Ascent defense that Kiara Locklear ran onto and scored to even the match 1-1. With no video assistant referee in place to resolve the confusion, the goal stood.

It stayed level to the end of 90 minutes and would beckon another 30 minutes of extra time. Just when it looked as though the match would go to a penalty-kick shootout, Locklear, who was possibly offside, scored again in the 120th minute. The assistant referee’s flag did not rise, and again, with no VAR, the goal stood. 

United lost 1-0 to Tampa Bay in the final.

Adding to the game’s storylines, Gonzalez will be on the other side of the pitch after moving to United in the off-season. She started in central midfield in Fort Lauderdale’s first match, a 3-3 draw against a much-improved Lexington SC.

After leading 2-0 on goals by Darya Rajaee and Locklear, Lexington scored three straight goals to take the lead in the 87th minute. A penalty kick by Ishata Hamid one minute into added time earned United a draw.

What to watch for

The Ascent will have to lock down on Locklear, who scored five goals in five games against them last season.

There are almost a dozen new faces on the Ascent roster this season as head coach and general manager Philip Poole worked to strengthen the squad. While this will be their first league match, Poole took his team to Houston and Los Angeles for exhibition matches against NWSL teams and friendlies against strong collegiate teams at Duke and Georgia. 

The first eleven

A potential starting lineup from the back could be:

2024-25 Golden Glove winner Megan McClelland in goal. Sydney Studer and Jenna Butler in central defense with Aguilera on the left and newcomer Briana Martinez on the right. Martinez joined the Ascent on loan from 2024 NWSL champion Orlando Pride, where she made 27 appearances since joining the club in 2023.

The midfield might see the 2024-25 ULSPA Player of the Year Mia Corbin in the attacking role with captain Taylor Porter and rookie Emily Morris, who helped Wake Forest to the NCAA College Cup … on the sides. 

Poole has a variety of options to choose from up front, with Riley Parker or Maddie Mercado, on loan from the NWSL’s Seattle Reign, in the middle. He could go with Audrey Harding (five goals, five assists last season) or Rylee Baisden (goal, four assists) on the left.

“She’ll play an important role in our attack,” Poole said of Mercado, who had two goals in 19 appearances for Seattle, “bringing valuable NWSL experience and a strong pedigree from her time at Notre Dame (26 goals in 94 games).

Mackenzie George, an All-League Second Team selection with Brooklyn last season, where she had four goals and five assists in 28 games. She was acquired via transfer during the offseason and may start on the right.

“Signing Mackenzie is a statement of intent from our organization to be able to acquire a proven USL all-league attacking threat,” said Poole, adding that she’s “a top performer in the Super League who will fit in with our style of play. She will excite fans and has shown she has the ability to be a match-winner.”

Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. at Beyond Bancard Field. The game will be streamed on Peacock. 

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