By Billy McGee
June 5, 2025
Photo: Carolina Ascent FC
In the inaugural season of the USL Super League, Carolina Ascent FC, has won the Players’ Shield — awarded to the team with the best regular-season record — securing home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
It’s been an impressive year for the Ascent in the newly formed league, which kicked off in August and is sanctioned as a top-tier women’s soccer league alongside the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
Over 28 matches, the club posted a 13-6-9 record, earning 48 points while leading the league with 45 goals scored, just 24 goals conceded, and 12 clean sheets.
Two players received individual honors this season: midfielder Jill Aguilera was awarded the Golden Playmaker after leading the league with seven assists, and goalkeeper Meagan McClelland earned the Golden Glove for recording the league’s lowest goals-against average at 0.97. McClelland finished the season with six clean sheets — fourth best in the league — while her teammate and former Tar Heel, Samantha Leshnak Murphy, who was signed in February, added five clean sheets.
The Ascent will now host Fort Lauderdale United FC in the USL Super League playoff semifinals. The two teams met four times during the regular season, splitting the series with two wins apiece. In their latest encounter, Carolina Ascent dominated with a 5-2 victory, marking their sixth consecutive win and becoming the first team to secure a spot in the playoffs.
Fort Lauderdale secured the fourth seed in the playoffs with 42 points and an 11-8-9 record. They ranked in the middle of the pack offensively and defensively, finishing fifth in goals scored with 35 and allowing the fourth-most goals with 33. Over the 28-game season, their attack generated 110 shots on target, while their defense faced 105.
Fort Lauderdale finished the season with the league’s highest passing accuracy at 78%, just edging out the Ascent’s 77%. However, the Ascent completed more passes overall, totaling 11,728 compared to Fort Lauderdale’s 11,516.
The Ascent have been strong at home this season, posting a 7-2-5 record at American Legion Memorial Stadium while scoring 24 goals and conceding only 10. Over their last four home matches, they’ve outscored opponents 12-1, recording three clean sheets.
If the Ascent can maintain their dominant home form and continue to capitalize on the league’s most explosive attack — led by top scorer Mia Corbin and Golden Playmaker winner Aguilera — they’ll be well-positioned to defeat Fort Lauderdale and secure a spot in the USL Super League Final. Equally crucial will be the leadership and defensive presence of co-captains Taylor Porter and Vicky Bruce, along with standout defender Sydney Studer, who has anchored the backline, led the team in clearances, and earned multiple Team of the Month honors.
Pregame Party: Playoffs Edition 🎶
Join us at the Beach Club this Sunday at 5:15pm for a live performance by Outrun the Weekend!
🎟️ https://t.co/2B25rZspeA pic.twitter.com/XH0L6m9jB9— Carolina Ascent FC (@carolinaascent) June 5, 2025
The match is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, June 8. Tickets can be purchased here, and the game will also stream live on Peacock.
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