Carolina Ascent back on the attack against Brooklyn FC 

US SOCCER

Carolina Ascent goalkeeper Charlotte Burge (back row left) earned a clean sheet against China in the FIFA Women's U-20 tournament.

After another two-week break, the Carolina Ascent FC will take on Brooklyn FC Saturday at American Legion Memorial Stadium.

Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.

Over October and November, the Ascent steadily rose in the Gainbridge Super League standings, winning four of six matches, with a draw and one loss. They were all one-goal margins, save for the draw. Carolina is fourth, two points out of second with 16 points (4-3-4). Brooklyn is one point behind them with a 3-5-5 record.

The teams met on Oct. 18 in New York with the Ascent winning 2-1 on goals by Brianna Martinez and Jill Aguilera. The games against Brooklyn have taken on a different flavor this season with three former BFC players now on the Ascent roster, including forwards Mackenzie George, Luana Grabias, and goalkeeper Sydney Martinez.

Rylee Baisden (four goals) has been the top scorer recently for the team. Mackenzie George has three, and Alyssa Walker two. Baisden was named to the GSL Team of the Month for November, along with centerback Jenna Butler.

Audrey Harding is tied for the league lead in assists with four. George has two. Harding is third in the GSL in chances created with 18, and Riley Parker is fifth with 15.

A win is imperative to keep Carolina’s standing where only four points separate third from eighth place, and there’s a difference in games played as many as four matches in one case. Brooklyn has already played 13 games going into Saturday.

Carolina will be away to Dallas on Dec. 13 and home against DC Power on Dec. 20. After just over a five-week break, they will return to the second half of the season away to Sporting Jax on Jan. 31. 

Duty calls – Ascent players answer

It was a big week for the Climbers representing their national teams, topped by Aguilera’s four-goal outing for Puerto Rico.

The left back for the Ascent, who was the Super Leagues’ top assist provider last season, plays in center midfield for the national team and was the finisher in a 7-0 win over Saint Lucia in the 2025-26 Concacaf W Qualifying match on Monday at Estadio Juán Rámon Loubriel in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. She put six of 11 shots on target. Ascent teammate Maria Tapia started on the left side of midfield and took another four shots. 

Midfielder B Hylton was a starter for England in a 3-2 win over Mexico in the Young Lionesses' third and final match of a preparation camp in Spain for next year’s FIFA Women’s U20 World Cup. She was a halftime sub coming on in a 2-1 win over China on Nov. 26. 

Also in Spain with the U.S. U20 women’s team, was goalkeeper Charlotte Burge who started and earned a clean sheet in a 1-0 victory over China on Tuesday. Neither played in the USA-England match, a 4-1 decision for the Americans on Nov. 29.

Comments