By Rylee McKinney
Carolina Ascent FC’s inaugural USL Super League campaign was nothing short of explosive, though even that might be an understatement.
Despite a slow start, the Carolina-based club surged to a dominant 13W-9D-6L record, capturing the Player’s Shield and establishing itself as the team to beat. Though their season ended with a narrow 2-1 Semifinal loss to Fort Lauderdale United FC, Ascent’s debut year laid a solid foundation, one largely built on players who rose through the American college soccer system.
Ahead of their 2025-2026 season, there are 22 players from the college pathway, 13 of whom are returning. The team’s success is a resounding testament to the strength of the U.S. college pathway in developing professional talent. Here’s a look at the players fueling the Ascent and their standout college careers.
Defensive Line
Meagan McClelland (Rutgers University)
A rock between the posts, McClelland started all 20 matches in her freshman season, tallying eight clean sheets and earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. By her senior year, she registered 83 saves and 13 clean sheets in 25 games.
Jill Aguilera (University of Arizona)
A goal-scoring defender, Aguilera made 92 appearances for the Wildcats and netted 33 goals. The NWSL’s Chicago Red Stars drafted her before signing with Ascent ahead of their debut season.
Jenna Butler (NC State)
Butler started 86 matches with the Wolfpack, recording seven goals and eight assists. After college, she played in the USL W League with Carolina Ascent’s development squad and earned a 2024 contract with the NWSL’s Washington Spirit.
Sydney Studer (Oregon State/Washington State)
Sydney Struder began her collegiate career with the Oregon State Beavers. During her freshman year, she played in 18 games, starting in 16 of them. Studer earned Pac-12 Second Team and All-Pacific Region honors at OSU before transferring to Washington State, where she continued to refine her game and add to her collegiate resume.
Addisyn Merrick (Kansas)
Merrick started every match for four seasons with the Jayhawks. In her senior year, she earned Big 12 Defender of the Year honors and was selected to multiple All-Conference and All-Region teams.
Emily Moxley (UNC Wilmington/UNC Chapel Hill)
Moxley debuted with UNCW in 2019 before transferring to North Carolina, where she appeared in 67 matches for the Tar Heels across three seasons.
Midfield
Taylor Porter (NC State)
Porter logged 85 appearances and six goals with the Wolfpack before stints with Orlando Pride and clubs in Serbia and Spain. She returned stateside with the Portland Thorns (2021–23) before joining Ascent.
Mia Corbin (Cal Berkeley) – Pictured Above
A steady presence at Cal, Corbin appeared in 80 matches and tallied six goals. She exploded post-college with 33 goals for Costa Rica’s Alajuelense before moves to Parma and Brisbane Roar.
Sarah Troccoli (University of Florida)
Troccoli’s 90-game college career included 13 goals with the Gators. She later played three seasons with Finland’s Åland United before signing with Carolina in 2024.
Attacking Third
Audrey Harding (UNC Wilmington)
Harding racked up 23 goals in 68 matches for the Seahawks. She was selected 38th overall in the 2022 NWSL Draft by the Washington Spirit and spent a stint with Sweden’s KIF Örebro DFF before joining Ascent.
Rylee Baisden (Pepperdine University)
Baisden recorded 12 goals in 78 college appearances. After college, she played in Australia’s NPL and A-League, eventually joining North Carolina Courage in 2020.
Riley Parker (University of Alabama)
Parker bagged 25 goals in 74 matches with the Crimson Tide, earning SEC Forward of the Year in 2022. She was the 31st overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft by Racing Louisville.
New Signings
Carolina Ascent FC did not slow down in the offseason. Nine of their most recent additions also boast impressive college resumes.
Alyssa Walker (Richmond/Iowa)
Walker scored 19 goals in 60 matches for Richmond before transferring to Iowa, where she added nine more goals in her graduate year. The former Spokane Zephyr forward continues her climb with Ascent.
Brianna Martinez (Notre Dame)
Martinez, signed on loan from Orlando Pride, was a five-year starter at Notre Dame with 91 appearances. With a 2023 first-round NWSL draft pick by Racing Louisville, she began her professional journey training with Orlando before landing in Charlotte.
Luana Grabias (Monroe College/Nova Southeastern)
Grabias tallied an astounding 59 goals in four college seasons. She was named Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year in 2022 and earned All-SSC First Team honors in 2023 before playing for Brooklyn FC.
Sydney Martinez (South Florida)
The standout keeper set a program record at USF with a 0.45 GAA in 2020, a season in which she was named AAC Goalkeeper of the Year and Tournament MVP. She joins Carolina Ascent FC following Samantha Leshnak Murphey’s departure.
Emily Morris (Wake Forest)
Fresh off the college pathway, Morris had an outstanding record at Wake Forest. Accumulating 12 goals and eight assists, Morris earned two-time ACC All-Academic honors and made the 2024 All-ACC Tournament Team.
Maggie Pierce (UNC Chapel Hill)
Former Tar Heel Maggie Pierce returned to North Carolina after most recently playing with the Irish club Shelbourne FC. During her five-year stint at UNC, Pierce appeared a total of 80 times and played a vital role in helping the program reach two NCAA College Cup finals in 2019 and 2022.
Macey Bader (UNC Charlotte)
Straight off the graduation stage, Macey Bader was signed last week as a forward for Carolina Ascent. During her four years at Charlotte, Bader appeared in 70 matches with 181 shots, 17 goals, and 13 assists.
Meaghan Nally (Georgetown)
Carolina reinforced their back line with the signing of former NWSL defender Meaghan Nally. This defender earned her collegiate experience at Georgetown University, where she made 88 appearances and helped lead the program to three consecutive BIG EAST Championship titles.
Mackenzie George (Cal Poly & University of Tennessee)
After a standout performance with Brooklyn FC, forward Mackenzie George made the recent switch to Carolina Ascent FC. In her college years, George began her career at Cal Poly, earning Big West Freshman of the Year honors in 2018. Then, George made the transfer to the University of Tennessee and started in 73 matches, scoring 15 goals and 21 assists.
