TAMPA, FL (April 5, 2026) – Carolina Ascent extended their unbeaten streak to six matches on Sunday afternoon, earning a 2-1 road victory over Tampa Bay Sun at Suncoast Credit Union Field.
Lily Nabet’s first professional goal proved to be the difference, as Carolina controlled large stretches of the match before holding off a late push from Tampa Bay to secure all three points. Jill Aguilera got the scoring started from the spot for her second goal of the campaign.
After weathering an early storm from the hosts, Carolina began their barrage in the 20th minute. Shea Groom laid the ball off to Mackenzie George, who rattled the crossbar with a powerful strike. Moments later, Addisyn Merrick had a look at goal, but Tampa goalkeeper Liz Beardsley came up with a strong save.
The breakthrough came after sustained pressure tilted the match firmly in Carolina’s favor. For the third consecutive game, the Ascent earned a penalty as Groom was pulled back by Sandrine Gaillard while chasing onto an Audrey Coleman cross. Aguilera stepped up and calmly buried her attempt into the bottom corner in the 29th minute for her second goal of the season.
Carolina nearly doubled the lead just before halftime when Tyler Lussi unleashed a strike from 25 yards out, but Beardsley produced a leaping save to keep it a one-goal game.
The Ascent found their second moments later from the resulting corner. Mia Corbin delivered to the back post, where Lussi headed it across goal, and Nabet forced it over the line to open her professional account.
Tampa Bay’s first strong opportunity came in the 55th minute when Faith Webber found herself unmarked in front of goal, but her header from six yards out sailed over the bar.
Carolina appeared to put the match out of reach in the 65th minute when George spun past her defender and tucked a finish into the bottom corner, but the goal was waved off for offside.
The chances continued to come at both ends. Minutes later, George slipped Groom in behind, but Beardsley came up with a point-blank stop. On the counter, Webber had another look for Tampa but dragged her effort wide with Sydney Martinez beaten.
Carolina pushed for a third in the 79th minute in one of the match’s most chaotic sequences. Coleman drove from midfield to the end line and fired a cross that deflected off Brooke Hendrix, skidded across the face of goal, and struck the post, somehow staying out.
Tampa Bay pulled one back in the 89th minute when Madi Parsons collected a long ball, cut inside, and curled a left-footed finish home, setting up a tense seven minutes of stoppage time.
Despite the late pressure, Carolina held firm to close out the result, extending their unbeaten run to six matches and keeping the momentum going ahead of Saturday night’s showdown with Lexington SC.
QUOTES TO FOLLOW…
Head Coach Philip Poole on the performance:
“I thought it was a good performance. I thought we saw the best of us in attack and I thought we saw the most resilient best of us defensively. Tampa made it difficult for us in the second half. They became very direct and we knew we had to stand up to that, but a lot of credit to the players for getting the job done in the first half.”
Poole on Nabet’s inclusion to the side:
“Lily has been a great signing. She contributes on and off the pitch. She comes in every day with a ton of energy and you can see that in the way that she plays. Sometimes she can be underrated in terms of how good of a footballer she is, but she covers every player of grass, she’s a winner, she’s a competitor, and she’s a great teammate.”
Addisyn Merrick on the team’s form:
“I think we continue to carry this momentum by continuing to focus on us and what we are good at. Today we were able to continue to show the fight and togetherness we have for each other. It takes all of us to win each game and I think it’s just been showing more each day we take the field.”
Jill Aguilera on the win:
“It was a really great win against a good team regardless of their place on the table. We moved the ball well, created a lot of chances, and grinded out a win away from home.“
Lily Nabet on her first goal:
“I’m really happy about the goal, but honestly I’m more proud of the group and how locked in everyone was. To contribute to a win on the road is a great feeling and I’m excited to bring this momentum and tenacity into the next game.”
