Carolina Ascent unbeaten streak reaches five matches 

STEVE GOLDBERG | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Mia Corbin scored Carolina Ascent's lone goal in a 1-1 draw against Fort Lauderdale United on March 28.

After four straight shutout wins, the Carolina Ascent gave up a goal to Fort Lauderdale United that resulted in a 1-1 draw. 

It was a frustrating day for coach Philip Poole and his team as the Ascent outshot FTL 16-6, their five shots on target drawing some strong saves from goalkeeper Haley Craig and other good chances blocked by United defenders.

“We created enough chances to win five straight tonight,” Poole said. “Overall, the performance was good and bright. You have got to put chances away to put opponents where they should be.”

Even during the win streak, the margins were slim. Two were 1-0 games, the other two were 2-0. The Ascent have scored three goals twice this season, one a 3-4 loss to Jacksonville, which was followed by a 3-2 win over DC Power. Those games were six months ago. Last season, they scored three or more goals six times.

“You've got to give Fort Lauderdale a ton of credit,” Poole said. “They got in the way, we hit the post, we hit the bar, they blocked, and they fought. They stayed in it, and what frustrates me is we know what Fort Lauderdale are good at. And they scored a goal being good at what they’re good at.”

With the top regular-season record in last year’s inaugural Gainbridge Super League season, the top-seeded Ascent lost to fourth-place Fort Lauderdale in the semifinal. That Mia Corbin still harbors a grudge isn’t a secret.

“I would say this game is frustrating because it’s a tie to them,” she said. “Obviously, we don’t like them. I’m more comfortable enough saying that. So it is just frustrating that we held the lead to the last 10 minutes, and it is just a simple set piece that we just weren’t focused on.”

Adding to the irony was that the tying goal came from an original Ascent player, Kathryn Gonzalez, in the 83rd minute. Corbin had given Carolina the lead with a 65th minute penalty kick after Mackenzie George, a force all night, was taken down in the United box.

The Ascent stand third in the GSL table with a 9-7-6 record (33 points). They are four behind second-place Lexington SC, eight behind league leaders Sporting JAX, and four points ahead of Dallas Trinity FC, with the top six teams having six to eight matches left in the 28-game regular season. The Ascent have six matches to cement a top four spot that guarantees a playoff semifinal position. Four are on the road.

The Ascent travel to Tampa Bay April 5 before returning to American Legion Memorial Stadium for a home tilt against Lexington on April 11. The final regular-season home game will be against Sporting JAX on May 16. 

Can the Jacks best the Battery?

The Charlotte Independence will host the Charleston Battery in the Second Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on today at 7:30 p.m. at Matthews Sportsplex. This is the 111th edition of the tournament for the nation’s most prestigious trophy.

STEVE GOLDBERG | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Luis Alvarez and his Charlotte Independence mates take on Charleston Batter in the second round of the U.S. Open Cup tonight at 7:30 p.m.

It will be the second time the two Carolina clubs have met in Open Cup play and the first time in Charlotte. The Battery took a 1-0 win in extra time in a 2023 third round match.

The force has been strong in the Jacks at home, which bodes well for them against Charleston, who are fifth in the second-tier USL Championship with a 2-1-0 record. They won their first round match 2-1 against the UPSL Florida Badgers FC with a goal in the 12th minute of added time at the end. First-year forward Colton Swan scored both goals for the Battery.

After a 1-1 draw on the road to open the 2026 USL One campaign against Westchester SC, Charlotte returned home to take out NPSL side Ristozi FC (Owings Mill, Md.) with a comprehensive 4-1 victory in the first round of the Cup. That energy and ability to close the deal came back even stronger in last week’s 4-0 dismantling of Spokane Velocity in league play. The Jacks are seventh in the 17-team USL One but have played one or two fewer matches than every team above them but one. Their plus-4 goal differential is the league’s best.

Due to the infamous scheduling of the USL, this will be the last Independence home game until May. A win over Charleston could possibly bring a third-round Cup game to Charlotte on April 14 or 15. That will be the round of 32 when MLS teams, including Charlotte FC, enter the tournament.

This year's Open Cup format includes seven rounds – one fewer than recent editions – to avoid overlap with the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

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