Breast Cancer Awareness Night at Suncoast Credit Union Field
Photo courtesy of Leah Storr
By Andrew Johansen
TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Sun fell short at home on Saturday night as the Carolina Ascent pulled off a 3-0 shut out.
Tampa found themselves in a mostly back and forth battle, despite the final result.
Early on in the game, Tampa applied the pressure. A fourth minute foul committed by Carolina set the Sun up just outside the box with a free kick. However, the subsequent shot went off target. Opportunity arose again in the 14th minute as a Tampa Bay throw-in led to a shot on goal. The attempt was saved with relative ease, and the Sun found themselves back on defense.
The Ascent managed a few attacks of their own in the first several minutes of the match. A yellow card on Tampa’s Kelsey Hill gave Carolina a free kick opportunity not far from the box. The ball was played into the box, but eventually cleared by the Sun.
In the 19th minute, the Sun’s defense caught a big break. After falling outnumbered to a Carolina breakaway, a huge chance for the Ascent was cut short due to an offside call.
Both sides maintained a clean sheet until 10 minutes prior to half. Within that window Carolina made it a two score game quickly. The first coming off a free kick chance, and the second on a low cross that was tapped past the Sun’s goalkeeper.
After halftime, Tampa Bay looked to erase the 2-0 deficit. The effort was there, as the Sun found a breakaway offensive which created a shot on goal. The efforts were limited though, as the Ascent managed to keep their foot on the gas as well.
The Sun worked to defend until an 80th minute Carolina goal topped off the lead. Carolina threatened a 4 goal game with corner kick chances in both the 84th and 86th minute, but both were unfruitful. The Sun kept the deficit to three and attempted to put themselves on the board with a stoppage time attack that ultimately turned out unsuccessful as well.
Tampa Bay was kept off the board Saturday. Looking ahead to this Saturday, the Sun will take to the road once again. They will look to get back into the win column again up against Lexington SC.
Lexington felt a similar defeat when they faced off against Carolina back on September 11, as the Ascent kept them scoreless as well. These results are fairly unsurprising news as Carolina has maintained a comfortable lead over the rest of the league as the first place team up to this point. Lexington sits one point ahead of Tampa in the league standings at the moment.
However, one side sports a much healthier goal differential. Tampa Bay has seen more shots go past their own keeper than ones they have netted themselves. Whether this pattern holds true will be decided. A draw or win for Lexington can boost them into the playoff picture. The Sun will need a win to do the same.