Late Equalizer Forces Draw for Carolina Ascent FC at Lexington SC

October 6, 2024 – USL Super League (USLSL)
Carolina Ascent FC News Release

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Carolina Ascent Football Club settled for a 1-1 draw on the road against Lexington Sporting Club on Sunday afternoon at Lexington Stadium. Carolina Ascent next plays at Brooklyn FC on Tuesday, October 15 at 7:30 p.m. The match can be streamed on Peacock.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Carolina Ascent conceded four corner kicks in the opening 15 minutes, but the defense remained steady and cleared the ball out of danger consistently. #7 Jill Aguilera earned the first corner kick of the match for the visitors in the 14th minute after a ball played in from deep forced the Lexington goalkeeper to make a save over the crossbar.

#9 Mia Corbin, who scored against Lexington in the last meeting, had a good opportunity in on goal in the 19th minute after a pass from #5 Jaydah Bedoya found #19 Ashlynn Serepca who played it to Corbin approaching the endline.

A play that started from the backline nearly resulted in the opening goal for Carolina Ascent in the 24th minute. #13 Addisyn Merrick carried the ball down the right sideline and crossed it centrally for Bedoya who put it in the back of the net but was ultimately ruled offside.

Merrick rattled a shot off the crossbar in the 29th minute as she received the ball from Serepca after a long run down the right side. Merrick’s attacking presence paid off in the 37th minute as a first-touch cross from the wing was cleared into the goal by Lexington defender #5 Madison Perez.

Lexington SC held a high line on defense, trapping Carolina Ascent offsides numerous times. Nevertheless, the visitors continued with heavy pressure on the attack.

Halftime: Lexington SC 0, Carolina Ascent FC 1.

After holding 58% of the possession in the first half, Carolina Ascent maintained control of the ball in the second half as well. Serepca logged back-to-back shots on target in the 62nd and 65th minute, testing the Lexington goalkeeper.

#10 Rylee Baisden and Bedoya combined in the 73rd minute for a dangerous chance. From the center of the penalty area, Baisden passed to Bedoya on her right. After a heavy touch, Bedoya crossed it centrally, and the Lexington defense struggled to collect it but did eventually.

The Carolina defense held Lexington without a shot on target until second-half stoppage time when #1 Meagan McClelland punched a long-range shot over the goal for a corner kick.

In the final minutes of the match, Lexington scored the equalizer directly off a corner…