Carolina Ascent has one final mountain to climb for title

CAROLINA ASCENT

Lily Nabet (right) and her Carolina Ascent mates will take on Lexington SC May 30 in the Gainbridge Super League final in Kentucky.

Carolina Ascent is a win away from its first Gainbridge Super title.

The Climbers beat Sporting JAX 1-0 on Sunday in the postseason semifinal for the franchise’s inaugural playoff win. Mackenzie George scored her fourth goal of the season in the sixth minute and goalkeeper Sydney Martinez made seven saves to earn a clean sheet. 

The Ascent play Lexington SC May 30 in the final. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. and will be streamed live on Peacock.

Lexington earned the Supporters’ Shield as the GSL’s best record, but Carolina has been more than competitive in the season series at 1-1-1.

“I think Lexington built a really strong team this year, so they’re very different from the group they had last season,” Ascent coach Philip Poole said. “They’re a good club with a great coach and a lot of quality players, so it’s going to be another tough test. We beat them at home a few weeks ago, and then we drew 1-1 at their place when they equalized in the 98th minute. We know we can compete with them, and we know we can handle them.”

Said forward Riley Parker: “We’re just so excited and so grateful for the opportunity to have another chance at winning the championship.”

The Ascent jumped in front in the sixth minute when George won the ball in the midfield and completed a pass to Parker at the box’s edge. Parker and George connected on a give-and-go, with George finishing the game-winner. 

“It means a lot, especially since I hadn’t scored all spring,” George said. “The way the goal happened with Parker made it even more special. To have it come in a game like this and then for the team to battle and hold them off for another 84 minutes feels incredible. It was a total team effort.”

Said Poole: “It was great to score early in such a back-and-forth game. There were moments where I thought we were going to find a second goal, and moments where it felt like they might grab the equalizer. But overall, it was a strong performance and a hard-fought win.”

Mia Corbin sparked Carolina on set pieces in the first half. In the 24th minute, the forward’s service to Jenna Butler at the back post resulted in a header that bounced off the crossbar.

Sporting JAX controlled possession and tallied seven shots by the 32nd minute. Jacksonville’s best chance of the half came late in the second half when Baylee DeSmit connected on a blast that Martinez turned away. Martinez turned in another gem two minutes into the second half when she stopped Baylee DeSmit with a diving save. 

In the 75th minute, Martinez again extended to turned away Georgia Brown’s header at the bottom corner with a one-handed stop.

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