Home vs. Carolina Ascent Preview
Date: Saturday November 16, 2024
Kickoff Time: 7:00 pm EST at Riverfront Stadium in Tampa, FL
Records: Tampa Bay Sun (13 pts 3W-4D-3L); Carolina Ascent FC (21 pts 5W-6D-0L)
Standings: The Sun are 4th in the Super League and the Ascent are 1st.
Despite leading for the majority of the game, Tampa Bay fans learned the full 90 minutes need to play out before you can celebrate. It was a bit of a let down under a downpour for the newest iteration of a soccer rivalry between the region and Fort Lauderdale. But, there’s no time for rest, as the Sun now host the only unbeaten team left in the USL Super League. Get to Riverfront Stadium this weekend to cheer the ladies on against Carolina in a huge match!
Shouldn’t we have won this one?
It was a heartbreaking final score for Sun fans. It would be hard to know how many of them made it down to south Florida, as the torrential rains kept the vast majority of fans out of the view of the cameras at the stadium. However, it can be certain that any who did make the trek had a lot to contemplate on their way home – and assumedly some wet car seats.
The lineup was pretty familiar and the approach was similar to prior matches. But, the conditions took a toll on any buildup for either team. All the tough bounces and driving rain impacted attacks and snuffed them out before defense was necessary. It was a relatively easy game for a team to sit back, which is what Fort Lauderdale did. After three losses in a row, it made sense.
Tampa Bay continued to use their wingers such that they were coming inside more often, looking to make runs with the ball or without the ball that threw off the FLOOTD defensive unit. This should in theory allow the visiting fullbacks to go up against their wingback counterparts with a little more room to maneuver. It paid off at times as well.
Carlee Giammona took advantage of one of the opportunities created by this movement. Left back Kristen Edmonds received a ball back from Cecilie Floe before looking up to see Sydny Nasello streaking into space. She received the ball in the Fort Lauderdale 18-yard box and was able to cut it back for the goalscorer, waiting with no one around her.
On the other side of things, the buildup play that fizzled often led to problems for Tampa Bay. The hosts were able to play a long-ball game at times and win second balls in good positions. They were also able to apply a press to the Sun and achieve the same end. Despite some good chances for the visitors, largely on corners, it was United who were getting the better looks.
Where Tampa Bay fans will really be sore is looking back on the goal conceded by their Blue and Gold. With just a few minutes left, it was all hands on deck defensively. Fort Lauderdale forced an incredible save out of keeper Lauren Kozal. However, on the ensuing corner, it was her mistake that allowed substitute Anna Henderson to score.
Since joining the team, Kozal has taken over the starting role from Ashley Orkus. Some fans were sour on this after the latter racked up some incredible saves over her five matches to start the year. In turn, the Portland Thorns loanee has done the same, including leading up to the goal, as stated. But, the gaffe will inevitably cause controversy – no matter how well she’d done beforehand.
How did Carolina get so good so quickly?
This weekend, the Sun return home to take on Carolina. The visitors this weekend will come in as the only unbeaten team left in the Super League. This is no coincidence. They have played well and earned every one of their points this year. Multiple players are contributing to the attacking output, including both starting centerbacks.
There has been a lot of position swapping up in Carolina, though this does not include the centerbacks mentioned above. Puerto Rican international Jill Aguilera has dropped into a defensive role, from which she can contribute to the attack down her left side. Local product Ashlynn Serepca has moved up top as something of a partner to Mia Corbin.
The throughline has been captain Taylor Porter in the midfield. Frequently playing with Giovanna DeMarco – although, it has not always been her alongside – the former Portland Thorn has been a rock for her side. Porter has played every minute of all eleven matches the Ascent have had so far. Don’t expect that to change any time soon.
She will not only help break up attacking plays, but she will also facilitate attacks for Carolina. Those will come from a possession-oriented style, starting with the ball at the back. Defenders Vicki Bruce, another local product, and the two Studers, of no relation, have been able to develop good connections with the players regularly lining up in front of them.
Tampa Bay has so far scored almost as many goals as the upcoming opposition. However, they are not as good defensively. The potential problem with handling long shots was not put to bed last weekend. One of those led to the rebound tucked away by Fort Lauderdale after all. But, that may not be the tactic fans see the most from Carolina.
They will more likely want to keep the ball on the ground, hitting long passes only when the Sun defense is getting too tight to their marks. In those instances, both Corbin and Serepca can take advantage. Manager Denise Schilte-Brown will be aware and likely want Brooke Hendrix and Vivianne Bessette to sit back deep enough to prevent this.
If they are to sit back, the midfielders in front of them need to be cognizant in turn that a gap could exist between them and the backline. The Ascent players contributing in attacking positions will want to widen this gap with their runs and then exploit it with accurate passes. Considering their records, it is the hosts who should be most wary of conceding.
Good positioning while maintaining possession will help keep the visitors off the board, and possibly disorganize them in the process. The battle to look out for is between Carolina’s Taylor Porter and Tampa Bay’s Jade Moore. The latter has a wealth of experience and her recent game time should contribute to this effort to get past the best team in Super League play in 2024.
Score Predictions from the RBLR Sun Podcast:
Lizzie: 2-1 W
Tom: 1-1 D
Yurika: 2-1 W
James: 2-1 L
