Spokane Zephyr FC picked up a comfortable 2-0 win on the road against Carolina Ascent FC in USL Super League action on Friday, with first-half goals from Ginger Fontenot and Lena Silano sealing the result.
The opening 20 minutes were scoreless but not without incident, as Spokane's Emma Jaskaniec was shown a yellow card. That booking did nothing to slow her down. Six minutes later, Jaskaniec turned provider, delivering the pass that set up Fontenot to open the scoring in the 26th minute and give Spokane the lead.
The visitors doubled their advantage shortly after. Silano made it 2-0 in the 33rd minute, putting Carolina in a difficult position heading into halftime.
The second half offered little in the way of a comeback from the hosts. Carolina Ascent struggled to break down Spokane's defense, and frustration crept in late. Taylor Porter was booked in the 83rd minute, and Spokane's Cameron Tucker picked up a yellow three minutes later as the match grew scrappy in its closing stages. Neither card carried significant consequence beyond the final whistle.
Spokane saw the game out without much trouble, keeping a clean sheet away from home and ensuring the three points were never seriously in doubt after that decisive seven-minute spell in the first half.
The result strengthens Spokane Zephyr FC's position in the USL Super League standings and extends a frustrating stretch for Carolina Ascent FC, who will need to find answers quickly as the season progresses.
USL Super League