FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The fourth-seeded Fort Lauderdale United FC (9-6-7, 34 PTS) squad is set to welcome top-seeded Carolina Ascent FC (12-5-7, 43 PTS) to Beyond Bancard Field on Saturday evening. The teams have clashed three times this season, with Fort Lauderdale maintaining an edge in the season series after winning the last two meetings. With kick-off set for 7:30 p.m., the fourth and final regular season meeting between these postseason contenders will be an intense one, and could have a major impact on the USL Super League playoff picture moving forward.
Coming off its fifth draw in the last nine matches, Fort Lauderdale United FC is looking to return to the win column against a team it has bested twice already this season. The attack is led by the steady Addie McCain (9G, 2A), two-time Player of the Month Jasmine Hamid (8G, 2A), the in-form Kiara Locklear (4G, 4A), and the explosive Sh’Nia Gordon (3G, 2A) – a group that has powered FTL UTD to the 4th-most goals in the Super League (28). The recent addition of midfielder Felicia Knox to the starting XI has added a creative spark in the middle of the pitch, shaping a midfield identity built on control and forward play.
Fort Lauderdale has been strong on the defensive end, led by a pair of Team of the Month selections in defender Laurel Ansbrow and goalkeeper Cosette Morché. The team ranks second in the league in goals against (22), a crucial factor in its push for a playoff position. With the playoffs fast approaching, Saturday’s key matchup with Carolina could play a pivotal role in shaping the top of the table.
Carolina Ascent FC enters the match as one of the hottest teams in the USL Super League, riding a five-game winning streak with a combined 16 goals scored and none conceded. Led by joint-leading scorer Mia Corbin (10 goals) and joint-assist leader Jill Aguilera (5 assists), the first-place side features both the league’s top-scoring attack (38 goals) and its stingiest defense (19 goals conceded), along with 11 team clean sheets this season. Defender Sydney Studer (7th, 1,033 passes) and midfielder Taylor Porter (8th, 1,032 passes) also rank among the league’s most active distributors, each sitting inside the top 10 in total passes. With the two high-powered teams on a collision course, Saturday’s showdown will be one to watch.
Matchup History
The clubs first met on September 6 in Carolina, marking just the second match in club history for both sides. Hamid netted her first goal of the season, but Fort Lauderdale fell 1–2 on the road after 90 minutes.
Their second clash came on December 14 in Fort Lauderdale, the final match of the first half of the season. Locklear delivered a standout performance, scoring a brace in a 2–1 home victory for FTL.
The third encounter, held on March 2 in Carolina, was a tough, physical battle. Despite trailing 0–1 in the 28th minute, Hamid and Locklear continued their dominance over Carolina, each scoring in the second half to secure a 2–1 comeback victory for Fort Lauderdale United.
Where to Watch
The match is set to kick-off at 7:30 p.m. and it will be streamed on the Peacock app and available for local viewing on FanDuel Sports Network. The direct link to watch the match can be found here.
Tickets
Season ticket packages for all home matches, as well as single-game tickets can be purchased here. FTL UTD’s next home match is scheduled for Saturday, April 26 against top-seeded Carolina Ascent FC for First Responders and Safety Awareness Night. The clubs have met three times this season, with Carolina taking the first game (1-2, @ CAR) on September 6 before FTL UTD took the other pair of matchups on December 14 (2-0 @ FTL) and March 2 (2-1 @ CAR).