Carolina Ascent FC held off a determined DC Power FC comeback to win 3–2 at home on Saturday in USL Super League action. Mackenzie George, Madison Mercado, and Alyssa Walker found the net for the hosts, while Sydney Studer and Madison Murnin replied for the visitors.

Carolina came out fast. George opened the scoring in the 14th minute, finishing from an Audrey Coleman assist to give Ascent an early lead. Just two minutes later, Mercado doubled the advantage, and DC Power suddenly had a mountain to climb before the match had even hit the 20-minute mark.

Power steadied themselves and pulled one back through Studer in the 35th minute, cutting the deficit in half before the break. The visitors carried that momentum into the second half, with Murnin equalizing in the 49th minute off an Emily Colton delivery to level things at 2–2.

What had looked like a comfortable Carolina evening had become anything but. DC Power were the side pushing for a third, and the game's complexion had completely shifted.

But Walker settled the contest in the 84th minute, restoring Carolina's lead late on. DC Power's frustration boiled over in the closing stages — Morgan Aquino picked up a yellow card moments after the goal, and Margie Detrizio was booked in the 88th minute as the visitors chased an equalizer that never came.

The win gives Carolina Ascent FC three valuable points at home and ensures they maintain momentum heading deeper into the US