Carolina Ascent preps for part 2 of inaugural season

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The USL Super League is still underway in its inaugural season, despite the break in their schedule. Carolina Ascent FC played 14 matches in their fall slate, their last one being on December 14, and impressing with 11 straight unbeaten matches. Carolina is in third place in the USL Super League as they prepare for the second portion of their season.

“I think if you look at it as a little bit of time between games and you can see it as a disadvantage, or you can look at it as, ‘hey, it’s great for us to refresh and get some injuries taken care of and come back ready to go’ so I see this in advantage,” head coach Philip Poole said.  “Obviously being here in the Carolinas and it’s nice sunny weather — helps us to get ready.”

The unique format of the USL Super League allows players and Poole to take time to reflect before continuing on with their season. 

“I’ve been saying this in the break more so is that no one‘s proud of this club than me to help launch and build from the ground up. It’s only when you take a couple weeks off and step back you realize how crazy it’s been to not even own a soccer ball and now we’re playing games in front of thousands of people and impacting the community,” Poole said. 

Carolina Ascent FC led the league in attendance during their fall schedule. The support from Charlotte, embracing the city’s only professional women’s sports team, as well as the results on the pitch give Poole a lot to be optimistic about. 

“You carry the motivation part of that over to say, ‘you know what we started this season really really well. We ended the season not as well so now we need to use that as a little bit of fuel and motivation into the second half of the season’,” said Poole. “Then on the flipside, you say, ‘hey, you draw a line under that now it’s a fresh start.’ As a player, or a team or a coach you get to make some improvements and you get to make some changes.”

The team will return to action on February 15 when Carolina Ascent FC hosts Lexington SC.

Contact Danielle Stein at dstein@wcnc.com and follow her on X and Instagram.

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