CHARLOTTE, NC (October 1, 2026) – The Gainbridge Super League announced today that Shea Groom, Jill Aguilera, and Sydney Martinez have been named to the league’s Team of the Month for September while Philip Poole has taken home Coach of the Month honors.
Including Mia Corbin’s Player of the Month honors, Carolina’s five selections are the most in the league for September. The quintet helped lead Charlotte to a 3-0-1 record in September, a mark that helped extend their lead at the top of the table to five points.
SHEA GROOM
Making her first appearance of the season, Groom caught fire at the end of the month and scored a goal in each of the last two games. Groom helped create the danger in the first half of the month, registering three shots and a created chance against Fort Lauderdale then taking two shots while creating three chances against Lexington SC. Groom finally got on the scoresheet against Brooklyn on Sept. 19 when one of her nine shot attempts found the back of the net and made the difference in a 1-0 win.
She finished off the month with another tally against Sporting Jax in the final match of the month, running onto Corbin’s corner and finishing a glancing header for her second goal in as many games.
JILL AGUILERA
Aguilera continued her hot start to the season into September, and sits atop the team leaderboard in goal contributions with five. Aguilera opened the scoring against Fort Lauderdale on Sept. 5 by capitalizing on a mistake by the visitors’ backline. She also helped the backline preserve three straight clean sheets to open the month.
Aguilera then added two more goal contributions against Sporting Jax on Sept. 26. Her free kick from midfield bounced through traffic and found a way in before she added an assist 20 minutes later when her corner kick found an unmarked Reese Tappan at the back post for the equalizer.
SYDNEY MARTINEZ
Martinez finds herself on the Team of the Month for the second time this season after posting three shutouts in four starts during the month of September. She made six saves in a 3-0 win against Fort Lauderdale, and then posted four more saves in a 1-0 win at Lexington. Her shutout streak climbed to three after a 1-0 win over Brooklyn before she wrapped up the month with three stops in the draw with Sporting Jax.
Martinez broke the record for most shutouts in club history with 12 and now sits three saves away from eclipsing Meagan McClelland’s atop the club save all-time list. She is also three stops away from reaching 100 career Gainbridge Super League saves.
PHILIP POOLE
Philip Poole was named the Gainbridge Super League Coach of the Month for September after leading the Ascent to a 3-0-1 record during the month while outscoring opponents 8-3. This is Poole’s 6th Coach of the Month selection during his tenure with Carolina.
The Ascent started the month off strong, blitzing Fort Lauderdale United for a 3-0 victory at home. The Ascent then knocked off Lexington on the road through a late Jenna Butler goal in a rematch of last year’s Gainbridge Super League Final before coming home and defeating Brooklyn FC 1-0. The squad wrapped up the month with a 3-3 draw at home against Sporting Jax to collect 10 of a possible 12 points this month. This leaves Carolina sitting atop the league table with a five-point cushion over 2nd place DC Power FC.
Carolina Ascent returns home on October 16 when they honor the Super Women of Charlotte against DC Power FC. Tickets are available here.
ABOUT CAROLINA ASCENT FC
Carolina Ascent FC is one of eight teams of the Gainbridge Super League, a USL property and a Division One professional women’s soccer league which kicked off its inaugural season in August 2024. Carolina Ascent is reaching new heights for women’s soccer. Step by step, the club will take strides to grow the women’s game, elevate the community and support a more sustainable future for residents of the Carolinas. The team plays all home games at the historic American Legion Memorial Stadium. Visit CarolinaAscent.com to join the climb, stay updated on club news and purchase season tickets. Social media page links: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X.
