Scoreless and winless in 3, Ascent need to show colors 

The Carolina Ascent is fourth in the Gainbridge Super League standings at 5-5-5 ahead of the Feb. 7 game against Lexington SC.

For 85 minutes, the Carolina Ascent were as good or better than the Gainbridge Super League leaders, Sporting JAX. All that went for naught in a single moment when Jade Pennock was quicker to the ball that fell favorably in front of her in the mouth of the Carolina goal. 

The loss dropped the Ascent (5-5-5, 20 points) to fourth place, and the second test of the spring season is no less daunting as second-place Lexington SC, still undefeated after 15 matches (6-9-0, 27 points), comes to Charlotte on Saturday. Kickoff is 2 p.m. at American Legion Memorial Stadium.

The match itself was what you would expect from a league restarting after a six-week break from competition. The rust was obvious as both sides pushed to full competition mode for the first time. It was quiet offensively, given that the two previous games between these teams had seen 11 goals in a 2-2 draw and a 4-3 Jacksonville win.

“We created a lot of chances, and I felt we were unlucky to not go into halftime 1-0,” said coach Philip Poole. “It ultimately comes down to if you create a lot of chances, you've got to put them in the back of the net. I have a lot of positives to take, but disappointed to not get anything out of the game.”

Until the deciding goal, the Ascent did have the better chances, but the game looked as if it would be a deadlock.

Two of the three new additions to the roster featured against Sporting, with Lily Nabet starting in midfield and Shea Groom coming off the bench for the last 25 minutes. Ava Cook did not make the trip to Florida.

Defending the home front

Memorial Stadium has not been a fortress for the Ascent over the first seven home games, with just two wins against three losses and two draws. For this season to be a success, that will have to change, and today, the start of a four-match home stand over the next six weeks (Feb. 7 to March 13), will be the best time to state their intentions to themselves and the rest of the league.

It’s not that the Ascent haven’t been putting up a fight. They are on the cusp of being the dominant team they exhibited in year one. Every win or loss has been by a one-goal margin.

Find the net

The major frustration for Poole has been his team’s inability to score the ball. After two 1-0 wins, the Ascent haven’t scored in their last three matches, losing 1-0 to Dallas, drawing 0-0 with DC, and falling to Sporting last Saturday. 

Last season, they went scoreless six times in 29 matches. Three were 0-0 draws. They’ve been shut out five times this season, just one a draw.

Sometimes, it’s good defense on the opposition’s part. Riley Parker’s diving header from a Brianna Martinez cross in the 35th minute was well-saved by Sporting goalkeeper Kaitlyn Parks. But other attempts – shots by Rylee Baisden and Emily Morris – missed the mark.

Mackenzie George also created opportunities with her aggressive pressing and willingness to take on players with the ball at her feet. 

Comments