FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – In the inaugural USL Super League Playoffs, No. 4 Fort Lauderdale United FC (11-8-9, 42 PTS) is set for a Semifinal road showdown against No. 1 Carolina Ascent FC (13-6-9, 48 PTS) on Sunday evening. The season series between the two clubs was evenly matched, with each side claiming two wins across four meetings during the 2024/25 campaign. Notably, both earned road victories in their most recent encounters, setting the stage for a thrilling and decisive 7:00 p.m. kickoff in North Carolina to determine who advances to the USL Super League Final next Saturday.
Fort Lauderdale United enters the Playoffs riding a wave of momentum, unbeaten in its last four matches (2W, 2D). Once sitting on the outside looking in, FTL UTD now finds itself getting hot at the perfect time. The attack is led by Player of the Year candidate Addie McCain (10G, 2A), alongside the red-hot Sh’nia Gordon (5G, 3A), two-time Player of the Month Jasmine Hamid (9G, 2A) and the dynamic Kiara Locklear (5G, 4A). Between the posts, goalkeeper Cosette Morché has been a rock all season, recording 7 clean sheets in 22 matches. In front of her, defender Laurel Ansbrow has been a model of consistency, playing every minute of all 14 spring matches, an anchor for a back line that’s battled injuries throughout the campaign. With a spot in the Final on the line and momentum building, Sunday’s clash could add another historic chapter to FTL UTD’s inaugural season.
Despite finishing atop the Super League standings, Carolina Ascent FC heads into Sunday’s Semifinal on its toughest run of form all season. The club went winless in May, managing just two draws and a loss in its final three regular season matches. Carolina still boasts one of the league’s most talented rosters, led by Golden Boot runner-up Mia Corbin (12G), Golden Playmaker winner Jill Aguilera (7A) and Golden Glove winner Meagan McClelland (0.97 GA). With the season series evenly split between the two sides, Sunday’s clash promises to be a tightly contested battle with everything on the line.
Matchup History
The two clubs first met on September 6 in Carolina, in just the second match in club history for both teams. Hamid scored her first goal of the season, but Fort Lauderdale came up just short in a 2-1 result.
The second meeting came on December 14 at Beyond Bancard Field, where Locklear delivered a standout performance with a brace to lift Fort Lauderdale to a convincing 2-1 win in the final match of the first half.
The third matchup, held on March 2 in Carolina, proved to be a gritty, physical battle. After falling behind in the 28th minute, Fort Lauderdale responded with goals from Hamid and Locklear to secure a hard-fought 2-1 comeback win on the road.
The fourth and final regular season meeting took place on April 26 in Fort Lauderdale. Hamid continued her strong form against Carolina with her third goal in four matchups, and McCain added another, but Fort Lauderdale came up short in a high-scoring 5-2 contest.
Where to Watch
The match is set to kick-off at 7:00 p.m. ET and it will be streamed on the Peacock app. The direct link to watch the match can be found here.
Tickets
The 2024/25 regular season home schedule may be over, but don’t miss your chance to get ahead – register now to secure your spot for 2025/26 season tickets HERE! Stay tuned and follow us on social media to stay up-to-date with all things FTL UTD on Instagram, X(Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, and Facebook.
