Carolina’s Tapia, Aguilera power Puerto Rico to big win; DC’s Constant, FTL UTD’s Gonzalez help set up April showdown for Haiti, Dominican Republic
Players from across the Gainbridge Super League were in action over the past week as the road to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup began in Europe and continued in Concacaf, with Lexington SC’s Emina Ekić putting together a pair of stellar performances for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Carolina Ascent’s Maria Tapia and Jill Aguilera both featuring for Puerto Rico.
Lexington’s Ekić features in pair of victories for Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina burnished its credentials as the favorite to advance out of Group C1 in UEFA qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup as Lexington SC’s Emina Ekić put together two stellar displays in a pair of emphatic victories over the past week.
The 2024/25 Gainbridge Super League Player of the Year notched the assist on Ena Šabanagić’s game-winning goal in first-half stoppage time as the side took a 3-1 victory against Estonia last Tuesday afternoon, a key win against one of two potential challengers for top spot.
Ekić then put in a tour-de-force performance against Liechtenstein on Saturday, scoring a pair of goals while bagging five assists in a 13-1 result in Zenica. The 25-year-old provided the helper on Marija Ana Milinković’s opening goal of the game and provided the assist on four of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s first five goals. She then found the net twice in three minutes, extending the side’s lead with goals in the 33rd and 35th minute, before capping her performance with a fifth assist in first-half stoppage time on Andrea Grebenar’s finish.
Carolina’s Maria Tapia notches a landmark, Aguilera stars again for Puerto Rico
Carolina Ascent’s Maria Tapia has logged a pair of appearances in the Gainbridge Super League in her young career, but the 17-year-old USL Academy signing achieved a notable landmark last Thursday afternoon as she bagged her first goal and assist at the senior national team level, finding the net for Puerto Rico in a 9-0 victory against the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Tapia opened her account in the 41st minute with a clever piece of skill, bringing down a lofted ball into the top of the penalty area before a deft lob of the advancing goalkeeper clipped the underside of the crossbar and found the back of the net. Four minutes later she added an assist, swinging in a good corner kick from the left that was met by Estefania Gonzalez for a close-range header.
Carolina’s Jill Aguilera also starred for El Huracan Azul, notching the opening goal of the contest on the way to a two-goal, one-assist performance, while Sporting Club Jacksonville’s Christina Roque notched the shutout with a pair of saves. The result set up a showdown for first place in Group A next month against Mexico at the Estadio Nemesio Diez in Toluca on Saturday, April 18 with a place at the 2026 Concacaf W Championship on the line.
DC Power’s Constant Features in Key Haiti Victory
Off her first goal in the Gainbridge Super League entering the international break, DC Power FC center back Claire Constant put in a solid display on the back line as Haiti took a 2-0 victory against Suriname to put itself in position to advance from Group D in 2025/26 Concacaf W Qualifying last Tuesday night.
Constant recorded two clearances and one interception while completing 59 of 69 passes, sitting tied for the team high in completed passes, as Haiti (2-0-0, 6pts) earned victory. The second win in as many games sets up a two-game window in April that will see the side take on current group leader the Dominican Republic (2-0-1, 7pts) in its final game on Friday, April 17.
Fort Lauderdale’s Kat Gonzalez Helps Power Dominican Republic Win
Fort Lauderdale United FC’s Kat Gonzalez notched a goal and assist as the Dominican Republic took an 8-0 victory against Anguilla to remain in top spot of Group D in 2025/26 Concacaf W Qualifying entering the final window of action in April.
With the Dominican Republic cruising at halftime, Gonzalez helped the host add to their lead three minutes after the break as she set up Nadia Colón before capping the scoring in stoppage time after going the full 90 minutes. Gonzalez tied for the team-high with six shots overall and completed 55 passes at an 80% accuracy rate while notching a pair of chances created. The result sets up a decisive contest against Haiti on Friday, April 17 that should decide which team advances to the 2026 Concacaf W Championship.
DC’s Frilles, Guillou help Philippines advance at AFC Women’s Asian Cup
DC Power FC’s Carleigh Frilles and Katrina Guillou each went the full 90 minutes as the Philippines advanced to the knockout stage of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia with a 2-0 victory against Iran, with the two-goal performance sending the side through as a third-place finish in its group behind Australia and South Korea from Group A.
Guillou recorded three shots and three chances created against Iran while completing 40 passes and winning 7 of 9 duels as goals by Sara Eggesvik and Chandler McDaniel either side of halftime earned the Philippines victory. Frilles, meanwhile, recorded two interceptions and won 3 of 5 duels while completing 20 passes as the side set up a meeting with Japan in the Quarterfinals on Sunday.
Carolina’s Hylton Bags First International Goal for England U-20s
Carolina Ascent FC forward B Hylton notched a notable landmark as England’s U-20 Women’s National Team continued to build toward this September’s FIFA Women’s U-20 World Cup in Poland as she notched her first international goal in the Lionesses’ 1-0 victory against the Netherlands last Tuesday.
Having appeared as a substitute in the first of three games for the side against Spain, Hylton made the most of her opportunity to start as she fired home a spectacular effort from just outside the 18 yard box shortly before the halftime break. The finish stood as the winner for the Lionesses, who went on to also claim a 4-1 victory against Mexico to wrap up a successful week in Spain.