Carolina Ascent Season Ends with Controversy
A 120th minute goal from Fort Lauderdale United — possibly offside — gives the Carolina’s’ best soccer team a down ending to a successful inaugural season.
In Kevin Smith’s Clerks, Dante says his favorite movie is The Empire Strikes Back because, “It ends on such a down note. I mean, that's what life is, a series of down endings.”
Carolina Ascent FC players and their fans can be forgiven if they feel the same way.
The Ascent’s season ended Sunday night with a 1-2 extra time loss to Fort Lauderdale United FC in the semifinals of the USL Super League playoffs.
After a hard-fought 1-1 draw in regulation, the #1 seed Ascent battled #4 seed Fort Lauderdale United FC to a stalemate in extra time — the first ever overtime period in a Super League match.
The sun had set long before, the night was dark, and the match was so certain to go to a penalty kick shootout that “The Base Camp,” the Ascent’s supporters section, had already picked up their percussion instruments and flags and moved behind the east goal, where the penalties would be taken.
Then, after a Fort Lauderdale goal in the 116th minute was ruled offside, heartbreak came in the final minute of extra time.
Fort Lauderdale striker Kiara Locklear — who had also scored the equalizer that sent the match into overtime — scored off of a set piece play and a perfect parabolic pass from defender Julia Grosso.
Despite unanimous protests from Ascent players, and a “what gives?” gesture from Ascent goalkeeper Samantha Leshnak Murphy that could be seen from space, the line official’s flag was down.
Though Fort Lauderdale had been called offside 8 times so far in the match, the call didn’t come this time. The referee whistled for a goal.
“I definitely feel like we felt a little bit robbed this game,” Carolina Ascent FC captain Taylor Porter told reporters after the match. “I just know that even though we did leave it out on the field, we do know that there's just so many chances that we could have put this game away.”
With only two minutes of stoppage time to play, the regular season champions were going to lose the semifinals and the chance to host the inaugural USL Super League championship final. Fort Lauderdale will travel to Tampa Bay on Saturday, June 14 for the USL Super League championship final.
For the first time, Ascent fans were livid after a match. “Cheated by refs is a Charlotte sports team’s way of life,” read an Instagram comment.
Carolina Ascent head coach Philip Poole was characteristically graceful after the match.
“Our players put themselves in a position to compete for the regular season shield, which they won, and put themselves in position to compete for the championship in the playoffs, and that’s what we set out to do,” said Poole. “It’s phenomenal that we’ve led the league in attendance. So, you know, we talk about our football goals, we talk about our community and crowd goals and organization as a whole. But still, it is broad, the game happened 20 minutes ago, and bitterly disappointed with the outcome.”
Porter was also reticent to blame the officiating for the loss.
“We have to stay really mentally focused when we’re that physically fatigued, when it’s that 120th minute,” said Porter. “We can’t always count on the refs to help us.”
“Unfortunately, we just fell short,” said Porter. “I think we're all feeling it and disappointed. We wanted to bring a championship here to Charlotte.”
Golden Hour at Memorial Stadium
A crowd of thousands — the largest for the Ascent since the team’s inaugural match — attended American Legion Memorial Stadium for the semifinal match. The atmosphere was energetic, the supporters’ section was sold out, and a punishing sun couldn’t deter the Ascent’s fans.
Production values for the match were also high, with pyrotechnics, cannons, fireworks, and special guests including Grant Williams from the Charlotte Hornets, and Charlotte broadcasting legend Larry Sprinkle, making his second appearance at a Charlotte soccer match this year.
The first half under the golden sun was uneventful, but dominated by the Ascent. The home side’s attack got to work early in the first half, as Carolina forward Riley Parker beat Fort Lauderdale’s back line and set up Israeli international Eli Hutchinson, who barely missed the crossbar with her fourth minute strike.
As the half went on, Murphy and the Ascent’s back line kept Fort Lauderdale’s chances out of the net, and Poole made a strategic change early in the match that brought Sarah Troccoli off the pitch in the 33rd minute in favor of Kathrynn González, who would go on to score the Ascent’s lone goal.
While the change brought González into an attacking posture, it also moved the Ascent’s leading goal scorer, Mia Corbin, into a more defensive role. Poole told Soccer Sheet he made the change specifically due to favoring González given the needs of the match.
“There [were] a lot of ebbs and flows in [the match],” said Porter. “Naturally, I think we had some really good moments and they also did have a lot of good moments as well. It was just really transitional. And I think it was just maybe whoever finished off those transitions was going to come out with the win.”
Parker, for her part, continued to attack, producing perhaps the best chance of the first half in the closing minutes. Jill Aguilera, the USL Super League’s regular season leader in assists, found Parker on the edge of the penalty box. Parker’s shot was on target, forcing another save from Tampa Bay goalkeeper Cosette Morché, who tipped the ball over the crossbar.
While scoreless, the first half ended with numbers that suggested things were going in the Ascent’s direction: Carolina led with 8 shots (2 on target) and 67% of possession, to 6 shots (1 on target) for Fort Lauderdale.
A González Goalazo
In the second half — and in extra time — it was clear fatigue was setting in. The oppressive sun wouldn’t set until 8:37 PM, well into the second half.
It was the little things: the forwards’ runs down their lanes seemed less intense, and then they hesitated before challenging defenders. Fouls became more obvious; Fort Lauderdale would end the night with 14 (to 7 fouls for Carolina).
At halftime, Poole brought in Rylee Baisden for Hutchinson, while Fort Lauderdale replaced midfielder Jasmine Hamid with defender Sheyenne Allen.
The second half started with consistent pressure from the Ascent. Shortly thereafter, his decision to bring González and Baisden into the match paid off.
In the 55th minute, Aguilera found Baisden, who forwarded the ball to González at the top of the penalty box on the right side. González struck the ball perfectly, finding the upper fifth of the goal, just missing the top of Morché’s glove.
The González Goalazo sent Memorial Stadium into a pandemonium. It was her first goal of the season, making her the 16th player to score for the club this year.
Fort Lauderdale made changes in response. Right before the goal, midfielder Taylor Smith was replaced like-for-like in Anele Theodora Komani; then in the 68th minute, an injured Allen was replaced with forward Jorian Baucom to bolster the attack.
Baucom’s inclusion was a bookend of sorts; she started the season with DC Power FC, playing against the Ascent in the first-ever Super League match as well.
From there, the momentum shifted.
In the 69th minute, Fort Lauderdale’s Grosso found forward Sh'Nia Gordon off a throw-in, who took a touch to find Locklear on the break. She effortlessly sent her shot to the far post, earning the equalizer in the 69th minute — and her fourth goal against the Ascent on the season.
The throw-in was controversial as it wasn’t clear which side the ball belonged to. Poole appealed to the refs, earning a yellow card for his trouble.
In the Trenches
Fort Lauderdale took control of the match after their goal, though the Ascent would still find the edge in shots throughout the match.
In the closing minutes, González did everything in her power to find the winner, launching some final shots at Morché as the half went in to stoppage time.
Then, play went into extra time with two tired sides.
“I think people saw how gassed we were, especially with the heat. That Carolina heat can really get to you,” said Porter. “So, yeah, I think we really ground it out. You can't say that we didn't leave everything out on the field there.”
Porter, however, was impressed with her side’s resilience.
“Everybody played with a lot of heart,” said Porter. “I'm really proud of all the girls and all the game changers that came in. They made a real difference, as well bringing a lot of energy and another kick into our step, and I'm really proud of them.”
Ultimately, however, Carolina couldn’t find the winner, and the controversial final goal ended their season.
On the official broadcast, even one of the commentators stated that the goal should have been called offside, but as of press time, United Soccer League officials have ignored multiple requests for comment from Soccer Sheet.
Porter had not seen the replay before speaking with the press Sunday night.
“I think we did a really good job holding our line, so I'm not really quite sure [if it was offside]. I haven't watched it back yet. I don't know,” said Porter. “i felt like there were a couple of missed calls with offsides tonight, so whether it was or not, I'm not really sure. But that just means we have to be extra sure next time.”
After the match, Soccer Sheet asked Porter about what it meant to bring home the Players’ Shield trophy despite the final result.
She didn’t see it as a consolation prize.
“I think it's huge, especially for a women's team,” said Porter. “In our first year, like I said, having 28 girls come together and we had a goal of winning both, but winning one I think is really, really impressive and we're just really happy to bring it to the fans and hopefully we can bring two next year.”
Now, the team gets to relax and regroup — or in Porter’s words, “disconnect” — as they prepare to fight for two trophies next year.
“I think it's a lot of girls have things to celebrate. There's been some engagements this year on the team, and even some marriages,” said Porter. “So being able to spend time with family and have some celebrations, I think will be super fun.”
Poole was also ready to get back to work.
“Probably my biggest takeaway is a lot of optimism for the future,” said Poole. “We’ve definitely instilled the winning culture and a winning team. I can’t wait to get going again. That’s just who I am.”
Soccer Sheet’s Yara Al Bayyari contributed to this story.
I was unhappy with the no call at the game. But upon watching the replay...it seems onside. These calls tend to even out over the course of a season which is why I hold the shield in higher esteem than the playoff championship.
It was a great season by the Ascent. Porter is right, they built a great base to work from for future growth and success.