Ascent grounded at winter break after draw against DC

CAROLINA ASCENT

Mackenzie George and her Carolina Ascent teammates went into the Gainbridge Super League midseason break third on the table at 5-4-5 and scoreless in three of their last five matches.

It was just minutes after the final whistle and coach Philip Poole was not happy with the performance of the Carolina Ascent in their last match before Christmas and the winter break. 

“I think that's the worst performance in Carolina ascent history. I think we’re lucky to not lose. The only positive is we did not lose.”

Not losing is not good enough for a team with the Ascent’s aspirations. 

“After about 15 minutes, I thought we settled,” Poole said. “I thought we grew into the half. I thought we started to create chances. I think we had six or seven corners in the first half, which again, creating these opportunities, pushing teams back. But at some point, we have to execute these moments, right? I mean, there’s been three good chances on goal plus seven corners.”

It was the second time this season that the Ascent failed to outshoot its opponent. DC outperformed in that area 19-10, and 7-2 on frame. It took an outstanding effort from goalkeeper Megan McClelland to keep the Power out of the net.

“It’s the same as the last X amount of games where we have to execute,” Poole said. “It doesn’t matter what level – youth level, college level, professional level, international level. If you want to let a team hang around, then you’re going to get burned. Happened in Dallas last week (a 1-0 loss), where I thought we were dominant in the first half. Created them all kinds of problems. You leave a team hanging around, you get burned.”

The Ascent did dominate Dallas, outshooting them 22-5, but put only four on frame. Dallas put just one shot on target and that was good enough to steal all the points.

It’s a similar refrain last season at this time but 2024 was tinged with a bit more hope in a league that was in the first 14 games of its existence. The Ascent were the better team in most of its matches but weren’t closing out with second, third, or fourth goals.

The top scoring team in the league last season is now tied for third with 19 goals. Lexington SC and Sporting JAX lead with 28. 

The trend hasn’t been good. Scoreless in three of its last five matches, the Carolina Ascent (5-4-5) stayed in third place at the conclusion of the first half to the Gainbridge Super League’s second season with a 0-0 draw against DC Power. They are level on points (20) with Dallas Trinty (6-5-2) but ahead on a greater goal differential (plus-1 to minus-6), which is the first tiebreaker in GSL. 

Though they’ve scored more goals (19) than in the first 14 games last season, Carolina has less to show for it as they’ve also conceded twice as many (18) than the year before (nine). The Ascent were also third at the break last season before taking the Players’ Shield at the end and top seed in the playoffs. After starting the second half of the season 2-1-2, they went on a commanding six-game unbeaten run. 

While Poole won’t be as patient in waiting for the team to find that groove again, two veterans of last season take confidence from it. 

“I think we've been putting together good performances,” said Jill Aguilera, last season’s league assists leader and Defender of the Year. “Haven't been scoring as many goals as we would like to, but I think it's just continuing to trust the process and knowing that those goals are going to come.

“I remember last year, we were in a similar situation, and then we hit our groove, and we were beating teams handily, over and over again. I feel like we’re in a similar situation right now where we’re putting it together, good performances. we're creating chances, we're being dangerous. And it really is just that final touch, that final end product that we’re missing, but it’s going to come.”

Said last season’s Golden Glove winner Megan McClelland: “I think sometimes it's just all about timing. (I’m) not really happy about the goal I gave up against Dallas last week, but our offense was on. Last year in the spring, we kind of hit that groove where we're scoring four or five goals and we're defending them, and you just get that one or two big defensive blocks, big save, and then you put one in the back of the net, and then they just keep coming and the games become easier.

“I don't think it's anything we're alarmed about. The league is so much better. It's just getting back into our groove and focusing on the little details defensively and putting the ball in the back of the net and we'll be good. We're not we're not too worried.”

Harding missing

It didn’t help that one of the team’s key players, Audrey Harding, was out for the match. Not for injury, but her wedding. Last year, Harding had asked what a good weekend might be to schedule her wedding, and the response, based on knowledge at that time was the weekend of Dec. 20. That would have seemed a good prediction as the last games before the winter break in 2024 were played on Dec. 14. So, she couldn’t be there for the team, and they couldn’t be there for her.

USL scheduling a mystery

It doesn’t seem to matter which division you’re talking about – Championship, USL One, Gainbridge Super League – USL schedules have always sported gaps in the number of games played by teams that should be relatively and evenly distributed.

That’s become the case in the GSL, which expanded to nine teams with the addition of Sporting Jax. 

At the break, six of the teams have played 14 matches. Fifth place Spokane has played 16, giving them two less to work with in the spring, while Brooklyn will have only 13 games after the break. Fourth place Dallas, on the other hand, with only 13 games played, will have a game in hand to improve their destiny after the break.

By comparison, although not all clubs are engaged in the FA or EFL cup competitions, all 20 teams in the English Premier League have played 17 matches leading into the Boxing Day and weekend games. In the second tier Championship, 18 of 22 teams have played 22 matches with the remaining four clubs on 21. 

A difference of three games played between Spokane and Dallas must be considered extraordinary.

Player movement

Little used midfielder Maggie Pierce has returned to Shelbourne FC in Ireland where she established herself as a regular contributor from 2023–24. She made 55 starts across all competitions, scored twice, and featured in two matches in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

Pierce had made one appearance for the Ascent during the 2025 season, as a substitute in Carolina’s 2–1 win at Spokane Zephyr FC on Oct. 30. She was also a member of Carolina Ascent’s W League squad this past summer.

While Pierce moves out, another player’s presence has been upgraded. The club announced on Monday that it has completed a permanent move for defender Brianna Martinez, following her initial loan stint from NWSL side Orlando Pride SC.

Martinez appeared in 13 matches during the Pride’s 2024 season, making eight starts as the club earned NWSL Shield and won the NWSL Championship.

The Albuquerque, New Mexico, native joined Carolina ahead of the 2025 campaign and quickly became the counterweight to Jill Aguilera as the starting right fullback. The defender has started 11 of 14 matches, logging over 1,000 minutes across the first half of the season. She’s scored one goal but has created 14 chances.

“We are delighted to secure Bri for the rest of the season,” said Poole. “She has been such an important player for us from the moment she arrived. Bri has had an equally impressive impact off the pitch and in the community.”

Given Poole’s frustration with the lack of finishing, expect additions to the offense during the January transfer window.

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