Carolina Ascent climb to third in GSL with win in DC

CAROLINA ASCENT

The Carolina Ascent celebrate a 1-0 result against DC Power that moved the Ascent to third in the Gainbridge Super League table.

“We just needed one to go in the back of the net,” said Rylee Baisden. 

After two weeks in which they had to dwell on the inability to score in a 1-0 loss to Fort Lauderdale, Baisden and her Carolina Ascent teammates reversed fortune and unplugged DC Power on the road in Washington.

Baisden’s looping header on a point-perfect cross from Emily Morris in the 57th minute gave Carolina all the points in a 1-0 result. It marked her fourth goal of the season, leveling her with Maddie Mercado, who was recalled from her loan by NWSL side OL Reign after six games. 

The two teams, ranked fifth and sixth in the Gainbridge Super League table going into the game with DC ahead on goal differential, played to a stalemate in the first 45 minutes, with both teams creating chances.

According to Baisden, the second half changes were relatively simple. “Honestly, we just needed to clean it up a little bit, connect our passes, and just play like us. I think that's when we're at our best, and whenever we stray away from that, we don't play well. So, we just wanted to get back to basics and play like us.”

“Us” is essentially defined as closing the opposition with a disciplined and relentless high press off the ball, and when in possession, keeping focus and shape, finding gaps in the middle and down the channels with technical skill in passing. 

DC attempted to intimidate the Ascent early with aggressive tackles from behind, as well as some incidental punishment with more than a few late kicks to the back of the legs. The Power were whistled for 18 fouls to just seven for the Ascent. 

“Us” is how the Ascent have played for good parts of games, but not nearly as consistently as they were able to muster in the last campaign. “Us” is the collective defense that limited DC to just one shot on goal, with few of their 7 total shots giving head coach Philip Poole pause for concern. 

“I think we weren’t perfect defensively. I think the first half was a challenge for us, and we made some adjustments at halftime. That’s probably what I’m most proud of, as the players executed the defending game plan much better in the second half.”

A good part of that was the stability Mia Corbin, Ascent’s Swiss Army Knife, helped further establish in the midfield.

First clean sheet of the season

Eleven games in, it was the first clean sheet for a team that had six by this time last season and led the league with 12 overall.

“The shutout is not something we haven’t been speaking about,” said Poole, “but everyone knows it was there. The players knew how important that was.”

It’s not that DC didn’t get any good looks. Just that the Ascent defense, led by Meagan McClelland in goal, recovered with pace and patience to cut the angles that forced the shooters to miss the target. 

“We are thrilled to get the clean sheet tonight. It feels like it has been a long time coming, so to have our hard work pay off on the defensive end feels really good,” said centerback Jenna Butler. “We communicated well, listened to each other, and cleaned some things up from the first half to make the defense more effective in the second half and keep the clean sheet.”

In six meetings all-time, the Ascent have yet to taste defeat against DC, winning five with one draw. The games have been competitive, with all the victories being one-goal margins. All three wins were 1-0 last season. The first meeting this year was a 3-2 decision. 

The win moves the Ascent into third place.

Both Sporting JAX and Spokane could jump past them with a win on Saturday. Anything less and the Ascent hold their ground until Dec. 6 when they face Brooklyn FC back home at American Legion Memorial Stadium. If both win, the Ascent return to fifth, where they started the weekend. There are no league games the weekend after Thanksgiving.

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