W League News

Goals by Baptista, Harding, Simon, J. Studer, Butler, M. Grier

COLUMBIA, S.C. (June 29, 2024) – The Carolina Ascent FC USL W League team finished the club’s inaugural season with a 1-6 win over South Carolina United Bantams, finishing 7-4-1 in the South Atlantic Division.

The first goal of the match was scored by #10 Manu Baptista, as she put one away in the middle of the first half. #36 Josie Studer played a through ball to #24 Kat González who was able to find Baptista, as she was making a dashing run forward. Baptista then slipped the ball past the goalkeeper to the bottom right corner.

Later in the half, #30 Audrey Harding scored a header off of #23 Renée Guion’s corner kick, to put Carolina Ascent up by two goals.

In first-half stoppage time, Guion took a free kick just outside of the penalty area and found #26 Jenna Butler, who headed the ball across the face of the goal to connect with #18 Olivia Simon. Simon found the back of the net and earned her first goal of the season.

Two minutes into the second half, the Bantams scored to avoid a shutout.

Throughout the half, Harding put herself in many great positions, often finding solid opportunities on goal and being a threat on the attack.

Deeper into the half Guion went to take another corner kick, and found Studer at the back post. This was Studer’s first goal of the season, and Guion’s second assist of the match.

After a handball in the Bantams penalty area, Butler went to take the penalty kick. She finished the ball in the top right corner for the visitors’ fifth goal of the evening.

#19 Cassidy Bell took a corner kick late in the half, and after another Butler header, #2 ML Grier found the back of the net, making the score 1-6.

Carolina Ascent FC finished the USL W League season 7-4-1 in the South Atlantic Division in the club’s inaugural year.

Goals by González (28’, 45+’), Baptista (41’), Sipprell (45+’), McGrew (52’)

ROCK HILL, SC. (June 26, 2024) – The Carolina Ascent FC USL W League team earned a 5-0 victory in the final home match of the season against the South Carolina United Bantams on Wednesday night at Manchester Meadows Park. Carolina Ascent finish the season against the Bantams on Saturday, June 29th at 7:00 p.m. The match can be streamed for free on SportsEngine Play.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

Carolina Ascent started strong, consistently pressuring the Bantams’ defense. #24 Kat González narrowly missed the mark twice in the opening minutes, setting the stage for the host’s offensive dominance. 

The persistence paid off in the 28th minute when González calmly finished a precise cross from #20 Sophie Sipprell, giving her team a crucial lead. This was only the beginning of the Carolina Ascent offense in the first half.

In the 40th minute, #10 Manuela Baptista capitalized on #30 Audrey Harding’s flick to double the lead, dribbling past Bantams’ defenders with ease. 

Just before the break, González struck again from distance after another assist from Harding, burying the ball in the net to extend the lead to 3-0. 

Sipprell capped off an impressive first half for the hosts in stoppage time, firing a sensational shot into the top corner, making it 4-0 at halftime. 

Halftime: Carolina Ascent 4, South Carolina United Bantams 0. 

As the second half started, the Carolina Ascent squad looked calm and composed. In the 52nd minute, #33 Jaida McGrew scored to make it 5-0 for Carolina Ascent, assisted by Sipprell, for her second assist of the night. 

Carolina Ascent continued to control the game, keeping the Bantams from having any significant threats. The rest of the second half was quiet, with Carolina Ascent maintaining a comfortable lead. 

Fulltime: Carolina Ascent 5, South Carolina United Bantams 0.

CARY, N.C. (June 21, 2024) – The Carolina Ascent FC USL W League team lost to the undefeated NC Courage U23’s, 0-1, in a tight 90 minute battle on Friday evening. Carolina Ascent is back in action on Wednesday, June 26 at 5:00 p.m. against South Carolina United Bantams in the final home match of the season at Manchester Meadows Park. 

The first 15 minutes of play involved solid possession from both sides with most of the play happening in the center of the pitch.

#24 Kat González notched the first Carolina Ascent shot of the match in the 16th minute as her shot from a free kick sailed just over the crossbar.

The first save of the match was made by #41 Reese DeJong, in which she made a comfortable pick-up in the 20th minute of play.

After the first 20 minutes of the half, Carolina Ascent started to pick up more chances and found great looks on goal. Many players, including #30 Audrey Harding, applied high and intense pressure to the NC Courage backline, giving the team solid opportunities towards goal.

Carolina Ascent’s best chance at goal of the match came in the 28th minute, as González ripped a shot inside the penalty area off the crossbar from a cross by #33 Jaida McGrew.

In the 37th minute, NC Courage found the back of the net from a shot in the penalty area.

#25 Kennedy Jones also created many great opportunities, and her shot in the 40th minute just went wide of the goal.

In the second half, McGrew continued to be dominant in the Carolina Ascent attacking half, showcasing her speed to create opportunities.

Carolina Ascent used a high press and it paid off, as the visitors earned many solid chances towards goal. #18 Olivia Simon came on as a substitute, and she made an immediate impact, pressing high and fighting to earn corner kicks. #17 Kennedy Bell also had many great defensive stops and clearances.

Ultimately, Carolina Ascent did not find a way to score, and the match ended 0-1 to the hosts.

NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE: Carolina Ascent FC hosts South Carolina United Bantams in USL W League competition in the home finale on Wednesday, June 26 at 5:00 p.m. at Manchester Meadows Park. 

Goals by McGrew (16’), González (50’, 55’), and Baptista (81’)

HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. (June 15, 2024) – The Carolina Ascent FC USL W League team earned a 0-4 victory against Wake FC in the teams’ second matchup of the season at Ting Park. Carolina Ascent are back in action on Friday, June 21 at 6:00 p.m. against NC Courage U23 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina. The match can be streamed for free on SportsEngine Play.

Carolina Ascent made a strong start, with the first shot on goal coming within the first few seconds. In the 12th minute, #1 Sejal Johnson made a leaping save to keep the ball in play and help build from the backline. Shortly after, #24 Kat González played an excellent through ball to #8 Emily Yaple but it was saved by the Wake FC goalkeeper. 

In the 16th minute, #33 Jaida McGrew scored a spectacular goal from far outside of the penalty area, sailing the ball past the goalkeeper into the top right corner, putting Carolina Ascent up 1-0. 

A couple of minutes after McGrew’s goal, #36 Josie Studer stood strong defensively, stopping a breakaway for Wake FC. 

Only a few minutes before the end of the first half, Johnson made a diving save to maintain a clean sheet.  

In the 50th minute, #30 Audrey Harding delivered a cross to González who skillfully finished the ball into the far left corner under pressure from a defender. 

Just five minutes later, McGrew took on a defender with great footwork and played a perfect pass to González who capitalized on this opportunity and secured a brace. 

In the 61st minute, #21 Julia Grier demonstrated a well-timed tackle to steal the ball from a Wake FC forward to begin attacking from the back. 

The final goal came from #10 Manuela Baptista in the 81st minute off of a corner from #20 Sophie Sipprell. This was Baptista’s fourth goal of the season for Carolina Ascent. 

NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE: Carolina Ascent FC faces NC Courage U23 in USL W League competition on Friday, June 21 at 6:00 p.m. at WakeMed Soccer Park. The match can be streamed for free on SportsEngine Play.

Goal by #30 Harding (73’)

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (June 12, 2024) – The Carolina Ascent FC USL W League team played a competitive match against NC Fusion on Wednesday evening, falling 1-2. Carolina Ascent is on the road against Wake FC on Saturday, June 15 at 4:30 p.m. The match can be streamed for free at sportsengineplay.com. 

NC Fusion took an early lead in the seventh minute with a goal on a breakaway. Carolina Ascent had a similar play in the 14th minute, but #18 Olivia Simon’s shot hit the side netting.

Carolina Ascent had numerous chances in the first half, testing the Fusion goalkeeper, but the visitors held the lead at halftime.

Less than two minutes into the second half, NC Fusion doubled its lead with a header directly off a corner kick.

#20 Sophie Sipprell had a one-on-one opportunity against the Fusion goalkeeper, but her shot landed just wide of the left post. Sipprell had another dangerous chance in the 64th minute off a pass from #30 Audrey Harding.

The offensive momentum continued for Carolina Ascent with a volleyed shot by #25 Kennedy Jones in the 65th minute. Harding collected the goalkeeper’s rebound, but her shot was blocked. A free kick from #5 Sam Whitaker to #24 Kat Gonzalez led to a shot off the post as Carolina Ascent continued attacking.

Harding cut Fusion’s lead in half with a shot into the far right netting in the 73rd minute. 

A scramble in the penalty area nearly led to another Carolina Ascent goal. Jones launched a shot which was blocked by the keeper. #10 Manuela Baptista found the rebound, but her shot was also blocked and subsequently saved.

Carolina Ascent held possession for most of the final 15 minutes but could not find the tying goal.

NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE: Carolina Ascent FC faces Wake FC on the road on Saturday, June 15 at 4:30 p.m. The match can be streamed for free at sportsengineplay.com. 

Goals by Baptista (4’, 10’, 48’), Sipprell (15’), McGrew (38’, 60’), Ryan (87’)

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (June 5, 2024) – The Carolina Ascent FC USL W League team trounced Fayetteville Fury, 7-0, for the fourth win of the season on Wednesday evening at the Spartan Athletic Complex. Carolina Ascent is back in action again on Saturday, June 8 at 6:00 p.m. against South Georgia Tormenta FC at Community School of Davidson’s Spartan Athletic Complex.

Carolina Ascent took an early lead in the fourth minute with a goal by #10 Manuela Baptista as she got on the end of a ball deflecting around the penalty area. Baptista earned a brace with her second goal in the 10th minute. She once again gathered the rebound after a shot by #5 Sam Whitaker and placed it in the back of the net.

#20 Sophie Sipprell scored her third goal of the season to put Carolina Ascent up 3-0 in the 15th minute. #33 Jaida McGrew dribbled to the endline and crossed the ball to Sipprell centered in front of goal for the shot.

The hosts added a fourth goal before the half with a header by McGrew off a cross by #26 Jenna Butler.

Baptista notched a hat trick with another quick goal in the second half. In the aftermath of a corner kick, she chipped the ball backwards over her head into the goal in the 48th minute. The corner kicks continued to be successful as McGrew recorded a brace for herself in the 60th minute with a shot following a pass from Butler, again. 

Before the game concluded, #31 Laughlin Ryan added a final goal for Carolina Ascent in the 87th minute with a header off a cross by Sipprell.

Goalkeeper #41 Reese DeJong started and played all 90 minutes for the team’s fourth clean sheet of the season.

NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE: Carolina Ascent FC hosts South Georgia Tormenta FC on Saturday, June 8 at 6:00 p.m. at Community School of Davidson’s Spartan Athletic Complex.

Goals scored by Jones (25’) and González (61’)

STATESBORO, Ga. (June 2, 2024) – The Carolina Ascent FC USL W League team dropped Sunday’s match on the road against South Georgia Tormenta FC, 3-2, at Tormenta Stadium. Carolina Ascent plays again on Wednesday, June 5 at 6:00 p.m. at Community School of Davidson’s Spartan Athletic Complex against the Fayetteville Fury. 

Tormenta FC took an early lead in the eighth minute, but Carolina Ascent kept the pressure on the hosts offensively.

Carolina Ascent scored its first goal in the 29th minute to tie the match. #30 Audrey Harding crossed the ball to #24 Kat González whose shot was blocked by the goalkeeper. #25 Kennedy Jones finished the rebound for a goal.

In the 38th minute, #0 Sejal Johnson made a crucial save to keep the scoreline tied, 1-1. However, Tormenta FC scored two more goals before the end of the first half. 

Carolina Ascent started the second half with solid ball control and numerous sequences in the offensive half and put a lot of pressure on the opposing team to keep the ball on Tormenta FC’s side. 

Pushing for a comeback, #3 Nicole Poole sent a cross to Jones who received it and passed the ball to González for the second goal of the night in the 61st minute. Carolina Ascent recorded numerous dangerous chances in the second half but did not find an equalizer. 

NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE: Carolina Ascent FC hosts the Fayetteville Fury on Wednesday, June 5 at 6:00 p.m. at Community School of Davidson’s Spartan Athletic Complex.