Carolina Ascent clinches GSL playoff berth with Dallas result

CAROLINA ASCENT

The Carolina Ascent extended their unbeaten streak to eight matches with a 1-0 win at Dallas Trinity that also clinched a berth in the Gainbridge Super League playoffs.

Carolina Ascent FC is 2-for-2 in Gainbridge Super League postseason berths.

The Climbers (12-7-6, 42 points) clinched their second playoff appearance with last week’s 1-0 win against Dallas Trinity FC at the Cotton Bowl. Carolina, which extended its unbeaten streak to eight matches and includes seven wins, plays at Tampa Bay Sun FC Saturday.

Rylee Baisden’s header in the 89th minute was the game-winning goal, which was backed by goalkeeper Sydney Martinez’s seven saves to nail down her 10th career Super League clean sheet a day after international match duty for Puerto Rico. 

“I’m just happy I could come off the bench and make a difference,” Baisden said. “To be able to win with this team on the road, come home with three points, and get into playoffs means everything.”

Said Carolina coach Philip Poole: “This is a very difficult place to come and to get three points, so I’m really proud of the group. “We were under pressure for long periods of the game, but even with that pressure, I still think we had the best three chances of the game. We didn’t take the lead early and we heaped some pressure on ourselves, but to show a level of resilience, to stay in it, and get the job done was really satisfying for the group.”

Dallas controlled possession early to put Martinez under pressure that forced her to make three saves in the first 20 minutes. Dallas nearly broke through in the 39th minute when Heather Stainbrook had a good look, but her shot was deflected wide of the post. 

Trinity continued its attacking pace in the second half, but couldn’t break Martinez, who denied Lauren Flynn at the back post in the 68th minute off a corner. Carolina struck 21 minutes later when outside back Addyson Merrick drove down the flank into the box to unleash a cross Baisden banged home. 

“It’s a big deal for the players and the club to know we’re in the postseason again,” Poole said. “It’s always one game at a time, one opponent at a time. Regardless, it’s a good time of the year and it’s good to be above the line.”

Ascent is the third team to clinch a playoff spot, along with Sporting JAX and Lexington SC. The win kept Carolina within a point of second-place Lexington (11-3-10, 43 points) in the GSL table. The top four teams advance to the playoffs with DC Power (8-9-8) holding the fourth spot on a tiebreaker over Dallas (9-10-5) with three matches left in the regular season. Spokane Zephyr FC is sixth with 29 points (7-9-8) and Brooklyn FC is still in the hunt with 25 points (6-11-7).

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