Carolina Ascent look to break free of Groundhog Day

STEVE GOLDBERG | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Spokane Zephyr FC goalkeeper Hope Hisey blocks a shot by Carolina Ascent's Rylee Baisden in the Zephyr's 2-0 win Feb. 14 at American Legion Memorial Stadium. Carolina has yet to win a match in the spring portion of Gainbridge Super League's season

It has yet to be a happy new year for the Carolina Ascent.

Carolina, four games into the season’s second half, and third in a month-long four-game homestand, have yet to win. For those who remember the pre-digital analogy, it’s been the same broken record each time out: not taking chances created and surrendering goals on what once was uncharacteristic mistakes.

Coach Philip Poole put it bluntly. “I don’t think we’ve played great in any of the three games we’ve played so far in the spring, yet we’ve had the chances to win at Jacksonville and to beat Lexington. And again, we had enough chances in this second half today to make a game of it. If we’re going to put up zeros, it would be nice if someone came and absolutely battered us. That’s the most frustrating thing.”

Essentially, they are Bill Murray trying to break the curse of “Groundhog Day” – learning and making strides but not yet finding the magic.

“I think one thing that’s been frustrating is we clearly are creating opportunities and it’s just trying to put one of them away to get it going,” Ascent defender Jenna Butler said. “We’ve done a really good job of creating chance after chance and getting in the box and getting crosses and getting shots off. We just need that one to go in to keep it going.” 

Their next chance to turn it around comes Saturday against the Dallas Trinity in a 2 p.m. kickoff at American Legion Memorial Stadium. The winless streak started in Dallas five games back on Dec. 13, a 1-0 decision at the Cotton Bowl.

Dallas (7-5-3, 24 points) now sits third in the Gainbridge Super League table while the Ascent (5-7-5, 20 points) slipped below the playoff line to fifth after last week’s 2-0 loss to Spokane Zephyr. The Trinity haven’t lost in their last five games, with three wins and two draws. They are coming off an impressive 4-0 destruction of Ft. Lauderdale United on the road but that was two weeks ago.

Officially bad

While the Ascent must shoulder much of the responsibility, they are getting no help from officiating errors. It is certainly a league that could benefit from the use of VAR if used appropriately. Sources with knowledge of the situation say that the Super League had intended to have VAR for its matches but later voted against it.

In the 16th minute, Shea Groom stole the ball from Spokane Defender Reese Tappan, who reached back to grab Groom by the jersey. As Groom ran around Groom, Tappan’s grip on the jersey twisted her into a fall as Groom chipped the ball over the keeper and into the net from 20 yards out. Referee Jaclyn Melz made the call but wrongly penalized Groom, uncorrected by her assistant referee, who had a clear view from the side, denying the goal that would have changed everything. 

The television replay was clear that Tappan created the action, and VAR would likely have corrected that clear-and-obvious mistake. 

Six minutes earlier, Carolina had a corner kick, and when Groom was clearly being held by defender Kelsey Oyler as she tried to move across the top of the box towards the back post. Oyler made no attempt to know where the ball was or even if the kick was being taken. Groom was taken to the ground with Oyler falling on top of her. Melz had a clear view of the foul but didn’t make the call. 

Add another gun

On Thursday, the Ascent added another forward by signing Tyler Lussi, 31, who comes in with nine professional seasons in the NWSL, most recently with the North Carolina Courage, and previously with Portland Thorns FC, and Angel City FC. After joining the Courage in 2023, five of Lussi’s six goals in 19 appearances (13 starts) were match-winners in 1-0 games. In 2024, she had four goals, and two assists in 22 games. That dropped to two goals and an assist last season.

Hylton to rep England again, three for Puerto Rico

Charlotte native B Hylton has been called up once again for England’s U-20 team for upcoming friendlies in Alicante, Spain from Feb. 24-March 6. It’s Hylton’s third call-up since 2024. She is eligible for England through her father, former Charlotte Eagle Andy Hylton. 

Hylton has made nine appearances off the bench for Carolina this season, totaling 211 minutes.

Three Ascent players – Jill Aguilera, Sydney Martinez, and Maria Tapia – were called to the Puerto Rico Women’s National Team for CONCACAF qualifying matches against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on Feb. 27 and the U.S. Virgin Islands on March 5. All three previously played for Puerto Rico in a 7–0 win against St. Lucia in December. Aguilera scored four goals in that match, while Tapia recorded an assist. Puerto Rico is second in Group A, trailing Mexico on goal differential. They will meet in the final group stage match on April 18.

Aguilera has earned 10 international caps and scored 10 goals. Tapia receives her second senior national team call-up, while Martinez has made eight appearances for Puerto Rico.

Forward Stella Spitzer is with the United States U-16 Youth National Team at a UEFA Development Tournament in Antalya, Türkiye, which runs through Feb. 27. The U.S. will play three matches – Spain on Feb. 21, Denmark on Feb. 23, and England on Feb. 26. This tournament is in preparation for the 2027 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

Spitzer is the lone player to make the squad from the Gainbridge Super League and the only professional in the group of 20 players called in. Spitzer was last called up in 2024 for the U-15 team. She has one appearance for the Ascent this season.

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