Sun pull off upset win over previously undefeated Carolina Ascent

TAMPA — When the Tampa Bay Sun and Carolina Ascent first met Sept. 27 in Charlotte, North Carolina, the teams played to a scoreless tie.

Over the next seven weeks, Carolina managed to remain unbeaten.

Until Saturday night.

The Sun handed the Ascent their first loss of the season, 2-1 at Riverfront Park.

Carolina (5-1-6) entered the match as the USL Super League's only undefeated team, one point behind first-place Brooklyn (7-3-2) in the standings, since the Ascent had fewer wins.

"They haven't changed much," said Sun coach Denise Schilte-Brown. "They stuck with their lineup and have been very consistent."

The Sun (4-3-4), on the other hand, have evolved greatly since the first matchup.

"We found consistency in how we defend in different moments," said Schilte-Brown. "We've just gotten better and better."

In an offense-filled first half, the Sun came out strong against Carolina's pressure.

After being denied early by Ascent goalkeeper Meagan McClelland, Sun forward Natasha Flint managed to break away from the defense and score in the 22nd minute.

Carolina bounced back with a goal from Rylee Baisden, assisted by Vicky Bruce, 13 minutes later.

But Tampa Bay Sun's Carlee Giammona took advantage of an opportunity created by Sydny Nasello to score in the 44th minute, putting the Sun ahead to stay.

Giammona had numerous attempts in the half, and Schilte-Brown said afterward she had no doubt it would be Giammona scoring what wound up being the winning goal.

"She's a triple threat," the coach said.

Giammona said her goal was the result of strong team play.

"Once I saw Nasello with the ball and a gap opened up," Giammona said, "I was able to get past my two defenders and score."

In contrast to the action-packed first half, the scoreles second half became a defensive struggle, with both McClelland and Sun goalkeeper Ashley Orkus making stop after stop.

"That was our best defensive effort," Schilte-Brown said.

The team used the communication and discipline it had been practicing to keep Carolina's high-powered offense at bay, the coach said.

"We figured out a lot of good things," said defender Vivianne Bessette, "and we need to keep that going for the next games."