Vicky Bruce was the first signing in Carolina Ascent FC history / Carolina Ascent FC photo
Aug. 13. By David Yochum. Carolina Ascent FC, Charlotte’s new professional women’s soccer team, kicks off its inaugural season Aug. 17 with two Cornelius natives, Vicky Bruce and Ashlynn Serepca.
Carolina Ascent is one of eight teams in the United Soccer League Super League, a new professional women’s league. Ascent hosts the first-ever USL Super League match Saturday at American Legion Memorial Stadium.
Both Bruce and Serepca had stellar careers in high school here and in college. 
Bruce
Bruce played club soccer for Charlotte Soccer Academy. In 2020, she was inducted into the inaugural Cannon High School Athletics Hall of Fame. She was a member of the North Carolina ODP program from 2006-10 and was named to ODP Region III teams for international trips in 2009 and 2010 while captaining the North Carolina ODP team each of those years.
Bruce played her freshman and sophomore seasons for the University of North Carolina where she won the NCAA Championship in her first year. Before her junior year, Bruce transferred closer to home to Davidson College where she started all 38 games.
Quotable
“I’ve played professionally overseas for over seven years, but it’s always been my dream to play at the highest level in the US,” Bruce said.
Ashlynn Serepca
Serepca
Serepca joins her new hometown team after playing professionally in Austria for FC Pinzgau Saalfelden. She scored 16 goals in 12 games during the 2024 season.
The Hough High graduate went on to the University of Alabama soccer program where she ranked fourth all-time in career game-winning goals (7) and second all-time in single-season game-winning goals (6).
Quotable
“It has always been a dream of mine to play professional soccer in the United States, and to get to play the sport I love in my hometown is a dream come true! I can’t wait to play in front of the amazing fans in the Carolinas starting in August,” Serepca said.
Details
Tickets for Saturday’s match vs. DC Power start at $22.
Carolina Ascent FC will host a tailgate in Independence Park from 3 pm to 6 pm. Fans will march to the stadium at 6 pm. The match kicks off at 7 pm at American Legion Memorial Stadium.
Click here for five things to know about Carolina Ascent FC
