Carolina Ascent FC cruised to a dominant 3-0 victory away at Tampa Bay Sun FC in USL Super League action on Saturday, with goals from Jillienne Aguilera, Rylee Baisden, and Riley Parker sealing all three points on the road.
The first half belonged entirely to the visitors. Tampa Bay's Kelsey Hill picked up an early yellow card in the 14th minute, setting an edgy tone, but the hosts managed to keep Carolina at bay for much of the opening half hour. That resistance broke in the 38th minute when Aguilera found the net to give Ascent the lead. Tampa Bay barely had time to regroup. Just before halftime, Baisden doubled the advantage in the 44th minute, finishing off a ball from Mia Corbin to make it 2-0 heading into the break.
Corbin herself had been booked in the 31st minute, meaning two of Carolina's key contributors were walking a disciplinary tightrope — Baisden later joined her in the referee's notebook with a yellow in the 62nd minute. None of it slowed the visitors down.
Tampa Bay needed a response in the second half but never found one. Carolina controlled the tempo and put the result beyond doubt in the 80th minute when Riley Parker converted from an Audrey Coleman delivery to complete the rout.
It was a clinical away performance from Carolina Ascent FC, who did their damage in two sharp bursts and were never seriously threatened in between. For Tampa Bay Sun FC, it was a difficult afternoon that will raise questions about how to stop the bleeding at home as the season progresses.
USL Super League