Carolina Ascent Return Tonight
The newest professional soccer team in the Carolinas prepares for the second half of their inaugural season.
The first half of Carolina Ascent FC’s USL Super League season began on a high, and ended on a low.
On Saturday, August 17 2024, Carolina Ascent FC hosted the first-ever USL Super League match in Charlotte. Ascent defender and Mecklenburg County native Vicky Bruce secured her team’s 1-0 victory over DC Power FC with a set piece tap-in that became the first goal in Super League history.
Bruce’s first goal - and the Ascent’s first win - came in front of a sellout crowd of 10,553 fans at American Legion Memorial Stadium, the largest audience ever for a professional women’s soccer match in the Carolinas. While no crowd since has crossed the 10,000 mark, the Ascent’s next six home matches brought in the biggest crowds in the league, averaging 4,800 fans every match at American Legion Memorial Stadium. By comparison, the North Carolina Courage of the National Women’s Soccer League brought in 6,363 fans per match last year for their best-attended season ever.
All tolled, that’s over 10,000 fans across North Carolina watching top-tier professional women’s soccer every matchday.
Carolina Ascent FC vs. Lexington SC
Saturday, February 15
Doors: 5:30 PM
Kickoff: 7:00 PM
American Legion Memorial Stadium
Charlotte, NC
GIVEAWAY: Red and Pink Cocoa Mugs with Hot Chocolate courtesy of Summit Coffee
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“The first game [was] honestly one of the best best experiences I've had in my life so far. It was just so surreal,” said Ascent goalkeeper Meagan McClelland in a February interview with Soccer Sheet. “The stadium was sold out. It was loud. We got to host the [first-ever Super League] game … It was super cool, just being out there as a team and then being able to get a win a shutout. I think the night couldn't have gone more perfect.”
“It was unreal and definitely definitely a top five experience I've had so far,” she concluded.”
Soccer Sheet spoke with USL Super League president Amanda Vandervort after the Ascent’s win about the excitement surrounding the USL Super League league.
“Tonight was incredible,” said Vandervort. “For the fans to show up like they did tonight I think is a demonstration of how passionate this city is about sports, about women, about women’s soccer. It was incredible.”
“This league is in an unbelievable position,” continued Vandervort. “We’re excited about the future of women’s professional soccer, and I think tonight was an exclamation point … women’s soccer is here.”
However, after a strong run of form to start the season that had the Ascent on top of the league table for months, the club faltered in November and lost the last three matches of the fall season.
Soccer Sheet spoke with Ascent coach Philip Poole about the run of form after the Ascent’s 0-1 home loss against Dallas Trinity FC on November 23, the last home match of the fall season.
“I don’t think we’re running out of gas,” said Poole. “Sometimes football is kind. Sometimes football is cruel, and we’ve been on the other side of that, where we played not so well [but] got results.”
Indeed, football was cruel to the Ascent that night. Dallas scored in the third minute of play, and that single strike by Trinity’s Samantha Meza was enough to vanquish Carolina and secure a second-place spot for Dallas on the league table.
“On another night we score two or three, and that’s not to take anything from Dallas,” Poole added.
McClelland noted the experience of many Ascent players like her who played in another league in the spring and summer, and didn’t have much of a break during the long year.
“I don't think it was anything specific, you know; we had some injuries [and] fatigue. We're tired,” said McClelland. “It's the end of the season, but I think we've kind of learned from that. We're professionals. This is our job. And we kind of know we can never, you know, mentally shut off. I think some things just didn’t go our way.”
Despite leading the league for weeks, the Ascent enters the spring season with a 5-6-3 record and 21 points, good enough for fourth place in the Super League and a playoff berth if they can maintain their position.
USL Super League Table
After 14 matches played
New Partners for a New (Calendar) Year
Every USL Super League match, home and away, is available on NBC Universal’s Peacock streaming service, but a broadcast alternative for Ascent away matches was elusive for the first half of the season.
On February 14, the club announced TV 64 and Telemundo Charlotte will be the exclusive local broadcast partners for away matchups. All away matches will be available live on TV 64 and select games will be available on Telemundo Charlotte.
“We are proud to announce our local television stations, TV 64 and Telemundo Charlotte, will partner with the Carolina Ascent,” said Cox Media Group Charlotte VP/GM Cedric Thomas. “These two stations will offer our viewers professional women’s soccer matches in English and Spanish throughout our viewing area. This is an important part of our mission to serve all communities and support the continued growth of women’s sports.”
“We are thrilled to secure this strategic partnership for our amazing team and our community. Delivering a quality broadcast on local television will enable our fans to stay connected and maintains easy, affordable access to our game,” said Carolina Ascent COO Timothy J. Schuldt. “Our values align so well with the team at TV 64 and Telemundo Charlotte, and we are excited to deliver this local access to our fans.”
Carolina Ascent’s away game coverage kicks off on TV 64 on March 8 at 9 PM ET against Spokane Zephyr, while Telemundo Charlotte’s first live broadcast will be March 15 at 7 PM against Tampa Bay Sun.
All spring matches, including tonight’s match, will still be available live on Peacock.
Looking forward to 2025
Carolina Ascent FC currently occupies the last playoff spot in the inaugural USL Super League Table, and players know they’re going to have to work hard to stay in contention during the spring season.
“I think that every team in the league is getting better,” said Poole. “I think players are finding their feet, and I think coaches are starting to figure each other out and figure each other’s teams out now … I think everyone’s getting better, and the teams are getting better, the league’s getting better.”
“I like our group. I’m happy with our group,” Poole concluded.
“Every team brings their own strengths and brings their own quality,” said McClelland. “As a whole, the League has been very competitive. We haven't had any games where we were like, ‘Oh, we're winning, we could just relax and take our foot off the pedal.’”
“And you know, that's what you want in a league. You don't want teams to be really good and really bad. So I think, just overall, the League's quality has been super high, and every team has their own strengths. And you know there's been a lot of moves in the offseason so definitely think that each team is going to show a little bit. It's gonna be a little bit different and present us with a new challenge. So we're excited to get back at it,” concluded McClelland.
During Carolina’s offseason, the team added striker Riley Parker, who joined after a fall stint with fellow USL Super League club, Tampa Bay Sun FC.
“I’m so excited to join Carolina Ascent FC this year and help the team any way I can,” expressed Parker. “This club has a great brand of soccer, and I can’t wait to be a part of it. I look forward to continuing my development as a player and winning lots of games this spring!”
Parker will be joined by Jenna Butler from the NWSL’s Washington Spirit, and University of North Carolina grad Samantha Leshnak Murphy, who holds the Tar Heels’ record for longest shutout streak at 1,119 minutes.
“I’m very happy to join the Carolina Ascent. The team is closing in on the first USL Super League Championship, and I want to be a part of it with this group,” expressed Leshnak Murphy. “Coach Poole is an excellent coach. I couldn’t ask for a better opportunity right now.”
In addition to the transfers, Poole has been especially excited by the Ascent’s youth players. Due to multiple injuries during the fall season, many younger players had to step up and make their debut for the Ascent.
“I keep talking about the emergence of those young players,” said Poole. “They’re the highlights for me, the young ones that make their debut and those players that were kind of on the periphery of the squad and now have played seven or eight pro games, and they start to mature in the game a little bit.”
Despite the success of the young players, and excitement of the new transfers, Poole is also looking forward to having his veterans back from injury.
“[In the spring], we’ll roll in with five players that we haven’t had for a few weeks, in some cases months,” said Poole. “So you look at that and you say, ‘Okay, there’s five key players that will come back in.’”
The Ascent’s starting goalkeeper is looking the get wins in the second half of the season.
“I think every every big game is the next game. Every opponent is great. So we just take it week by week, and we focus on who we're playing next,” said McClelland. “I think we're definitely excited to get back on the field against some other competition … we've been working hard, and we can't wait for it to finally pay off.”
While she’s focused on one game at a time, McClelland admits that it’s hard not to think about the championship.
“Like I said, you don't want to get too far ahead. You want to be able to play every game,” said McClelland. “But I think you know, [coming in first place and winning] the league is definitely on every single person's mind.”
Ascent Soccer Returns Tonight
After almost three months without a home fixture, the Carolina Ascent return to American Legion Memorial Stadium at 7:00 PM ET tonight, facing seventh place Lexington SC. Both of the previous meetings between the teams have ended in 1-1 draws.
McClelland couldn’t be more excited.
“Honestly getting back on the field. Getting some more wins out, getting some more big tackles. Seeing our fans again. I feel like it's just what we're all really excited for,” McClelland concluded.