Brooklyn FC Falls 2-1 to Carolina Ascent despite surge in second half

On a cool Saturday night in Coney Island, Brooklyn FC hosted Carolina Ascent FC at Maimonides Park for the annual Pink Game in partnership with the American Cancer Society, honoring survivors and raising breast cancer awareness. The atmosphere was emotional and charged with purpose, filled with pink-striped kits, drumlines, and a strong sense of community.

But Brooklyn fell 2-1 to Carolina despite a determined second-half push, extending their winless run to eight games. BKFC now sit in 7th Place in the nine-team Gainbridge Super League, with just seven points after nine games.

Carolina dictate the tempo

Brooklyn FC lined up in a 3-5-2 under head coach Tomás Tengarrinha. The Starting XI featured Kelsey Daugherty in goal; a back-three of Leah Scarpelli, Jordan Thompson, and Annie Williams; a midfield of Hope Breslin, Samantha Kroeger, Emma Loving, and Nayeong Shin; and forwards Rebecca Cooke and Catherine Zimmerman.

Carolina Ascent used a 4-3-3 built around possession and width. Former Brooklyn players Sydney Martinez and Luana Grabias both returned to Maimonides Park for the first time, while McKenzie George provided early energy from the left flank. Carolina’s lineup also included Brianna Martínez, Jillian Aguilera, Addisyn Merrick, and goalkeeper Meagan McClelland, forming a disciplined and well-balanced unit that controlled long stretches of play.

From the opening whistle, Carolina took command with precise short passes and strong positional awareness. In the seventh minute, Brooklyn nearly struck first when Scarpelli took a long-range shot that forced McClelland into a fingertip save, earning a corner. But Brooklyn struggled to hold the ball, finishing the half at 34% possession as Carolina’s compact midfield, anchored by Martínez, forced turnovers and denied space in the final third.

In the 23rd minute, Scarpelli received a yellow card for a tactical foul that stopped a counterattack. One minute later, Martínez found space near the top of the box and fired a low shot past Daugherty to make it 1-0. Carolina almost added a second, but Thompson’s goal-line clearance soon after kept the deficit at one. Brooklyn’s best first-half look came in the 35th minute, when Scarpelli’s curling effort narrowly missed. It was the club's only attempt on goal: When halftime arrived, Brooklyn were down 1-0 and outshot 8-1.

Lewis brings Brooklyn back into the match

Brooklyn opened the second half with increased urgency, pressing higher and committing more numbers forward. Breslin and Loving connected through midfield, while Cooke and Zimmerman tested Carolina’s back line with runs in behind. But it was Carolina who found a way to score, when left-back Aguilera cut in from the left and drove a low strike into the bottom corner to make it 2-0 in the 56th minute.

Brooklyn finally got on the scoresheet in the 67th minute, when substitute Sofia Lewis timed her run behind the defense and finished calmly for her first goal of the season, cutting the deficit in half and lifting the home crowd. Moments later, Cooke briefly left the field following an arm knock but returned soon after. In the 74th minute, midfielder Breslin received a yellow card for dissent, Brooklyn’s second booking of the night, as the team continues to lead the league in cautions.

Late chances fall short

Brooklyn continued to push for an equalizer as the game came to a close. In the 91st minute, Kroeger’s corner kick struck the crossbar, just inches from leveling the score. Two minutes later, Daugherty advanced for a final set-piece opportunity, but her header was safely caught by McClelland. After five minutes of added time, the referee’s whistle confirmed a 2-1 defeat.

As supporters gathered for the post-match survivor ceremony, the meaning of the evening rose above the scoreline. The Pink Game represented perseverance, courage, and unity, values that Brooklyn embodied through their second-half fight. Even in defeat, the team showed the same endurance that defines the community it represents. Their determination and refusal to give up mirrored the strength of the survivors being honored on the field.

Brooklyn will take their record of 1W-4D-4L to Florida when they face Fort Lauderdale United FC on Saturday, November 1. The trip is another test for a Brooklyn squad that last won a game on August 23, and that earned only three points in their last five games played.