Mackenzie George, Stout Defending Sends Carolina Ascent Into Super League Final

Sporting Jax 0 Carolina Ascent 1

Coming into Sunday’s Gainbridge Super League semi-final between Sporting Jax and Carolina Ascent, it was Carolina who were truly on the Ascent going unbeaten in their last 11 games. Sporting Jax would have to flick a switch that looked turned off since they clinched their postseason berth over a month ago.

In the end it would finish in the Jacksonville way, defeat one win from the championship game as a sixth minute goal was all that was needed for Carolina Ascent to play at Lexington SC next week in the title game.

Sporting Jax made one change to their starting 11 from last week’s 3-1 defeat in Charlotte: Maggie Illig replacing Kacey Smekrud with Smekrud being relegated to the bench. Katie Sullivan would replace Caroline Murray on the bench. Carolina Ascent’s lineup saw no changes.

A second half of the season theme would strike Sporting Jax quickly in this one, being totally out of position in the opening quarter hour. Sporting Jax would give up a corner kick inside 2 minutes and it was nearly deja vu from last week. The delivery from Mia Corbin forced a punch off the line by Kaitlyn Parks. Before Carolina could follow up, the ball was played out and ultimately cleared by Ashlyn Puerta. It only took 2 minutes but the start was just a resumption of last week.

4 minutes later Carolina Ascent would hit the front. After Meg Hughes gave up a cheap throw in, it didn’t take Carolina long. Mackenzie George would win the ball, go on the charge down the right. A give and go with Riley Parker later, Georgia Brown and Grace Phillpotts were out of position and George had an empty unmarked net to score in. Tyler Lussi was in position behind George so if it wasn’t George, Lussi was there to pounce. It was a perfect sequence from a Carolina Ascent throw in making it 1-0 to the visitors.

The goal put Sporting Jax into shock. Carolina forced Sporting Jax into compacting the middle three of the midfield, while forcing Sporting Jax into rushing everything. That would start in the 8th minute when Meg Hughes kept the ball in on the end line, a desperation centering ball finding Ashlyn Puerta’s chip easily handled by Sydney Martinez. 4 minutes later a 5 pass sequence starting with Sophie Boman ended with Ashlyn Puerta picked up a giveaway ball from DeSmit and placed a shot well wide.

While Sporting Jax had possession, it was where Carolina wanted them. Even Sporting Jax set pieces in the first half felt inevitable they’d be cleared. Meanwhile midway in the first half, a Carolina Ascent corner whipped in by Mia Corbin found Jenna Butler on the far post, Kaitlyn Parks keeping it in play and off the bar.

Sporting Jax’s best shots would end up right to Sydney Martinez. A 17th minute shot by Georgia Brown off a corner…right to Martinez. Sophie Boman on the half hour from another corner kick, right to Martinez. Baylee DeSmit from Georgia Brown at the end of the first half, again right to the Carolina Ascent keeper. Going into halftime Sporting Jax this one felt over.

Whatever Stacey Balaam said at halftime worked early. It would start right after kickoff when Carolina’s ball into midfield was won by Sophia Jones. A 1-2 with Grace Phillpotts later got Puerta open. Puerta’s centering ball, to no one and easily cleared. It was the first positive move for Sporting Jax all night, yet the final product was lacking.

2 minutes later Baylee DeSmit would get 2 chances and come away empty handed. The first would come from a Meg Hughes long ball . Getting in behind Meaghan Nally, DeSmit would get too close to Martinez before going for goal, the Ascent keeper making the save. On the next phase of play Grace Phillpotts would get a far post effort into DeSmit. Carolina thought she was offside, DeSmit nonetheless placed her shot over the crossbar and stayed down due to a late challenge. The referee saw the advantage being enough.

On the hour Sporting Jax made their first change, Parker Roberts coming on for Abby Boyan. The move moved Grace Phillpotts forward with Parker playing at the back. 2 minutes later Carolina would bring Taylor Porter and Audrey Coleman for Mia Corbin and Riley Parker. It was clear, Sporting Jax was looking to find more options to get balls into the box, Carolina was ready to shut the game down. With Corbin on the game’s only yellow, her substitution made the most sense of all.

With 15 minutes to play would come Sporting Jax’s best chance of the night. Sophia Jones would get down the left from a Grace Phillpotts delivery. The centering ball would meet Georgia Brown on the edge of the far post 6, the header forcing Sydney Martinez into the save of the weekend, fingertips denying what looked to be a sure equalizer and deflecting for a corner. The corner from Boman would go out for a corner.

Sporting Jax would make two attacking changes immediately from the wasted corner, Jade Pennock and Jessie Hunt coming on for Ashlyn Puerta and Maggie Illig. 3 minutes later Carolina Ascent would counter with Emily Morris coming on for Lily Nabet.

Kaitlyn Parks would keep Sporting Jax alive in the 88th minute when Mackenzie George would get forward and play in Audrey Coleman. Parks just did enough to get over and make the save. On the other end 2 minutes later Sporting Jax would win a corner. With Kaitlyn Parks up, the first Sophia Boman corner would be punched out by Sydney Martinez for a second corner, one that Sophia Jones headed wide. Carolina Ascent saw out second half stoppage time to make their first Gainbridge Super League final, where they will want to add to their Players’ Shield last season.

Make no bones about it, Carolina Ascent dominated this game. Sporting Jax effectively settled for scraps as Caroina’s defending placed Sporting Jax wherever they wanted them. What Carolina was the last two weeks was what Sporting Jax was in the middle of the season. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it until I’m old and grey, you can’t flip the switch back on after you’ve flipped it off. Sporting Jax has had the switch off for a month. Add in the fact Julia Lester wasn’t fit, Sporting Jax were in trouble before a ball was kicked in anger. While it was a successful first season, questions around how it ended are going to linger long after this night ends. How many will Mark Warburton and Stacey Balaam be able to bring back, along with adding one or two veterans who can actually get into the starting 11 will be crucial to this side’s development. I say that with the caution this week has brought.

Carolina will give Lexington a game next week. It might be the most important game in the history of this league.