ASHEVILLE CITY SC IMPROVE TO 2-0 ON THE SEASON AFTER DRAMATIC WIN IN FINAL MINUTES

Photo Credit: Mike Keating

Tuesday evening featured a thriller in the Southern Division of the Carolinas Conference as Asheville City Soccer Club (1-0) hosted Women’s Football Club of Charlotte (0-1-1).

Morgan Hart, WFC Midfielder, needed just 45 seconds to open the scoring and give her team a commanding lead right out of the gate. Hart, who begins her collegiate career at the University of Georgia this fall, anticipated and cut off an Asheville pass in the midfield then advanced almost to the penalty area before driving the ball into the far, back corner of the net.

The stunned Asheville side showed little urgency in responding after the opening miscue.
 

“We didn’t so much respond to the goal, as we just stuck to the plan”,
Stacey Enos, a member of Asheville’s ownership group, stated after the match.

That plan consisted of building momentum up from the back – a strategy which led to numerous first-half scoring opportunities, however, most ended with one connection too few or one touch too strong while others were well defended by WFC’s backline between Gabrielle Lassiter, Army West Point commit, and Maggie Miller, Furman University freshman.

Asheville appeared to have a chance at an open goal when forward, Makena Silber, blocked an attempted clearance by the WFC’s keeper, however, the opportunity did not see through as the official called a handball on Silber – a continued misfortune for the Asheville side throughout the first half.

The second half followed the same storyline, but only for so long. After being down for 75 minutes of the match, Asheville’s pressed on while creating more opportunities that began to go their way.

Asheville defender, Molly Dwyer, fielded a header by the WFC defense, dribbling as far as the penalty marker where her first shot was ultimately blocked. Dwyer maintained her composer to return moments later, in the 77^’ minute, to drill the ball in the back of the net, bringing Asheville level 1-1.

Soon after, Chloe McCleary-Small, Asheville veteran defender, played a long ball into the penalty area to connect with Silber who gracefully volleyed over WFC keeper finding midfielder, Gillian Oyos, to complete the scoring drive.

It took a matter of six minutes for Asheville to secure the lead that would give them the victory and all three points. Asheville now sits in second of the division table with six points and WFC misses the opportunity to gain standings points, leaving them with a single point in the table and falling to 0-1-2.

Scott Ginn, WFC head coach, sees this match as a learning opportunity for his team.
 

“We tell our players all the time, ‘You’re in an athletic contest, yes, but you’re also in a learning competition’,” Ginn commented after the match.

“We’re disappointed with the result, but we’re not disappointed with how we played, or the level of play, and the effort that the players put into it. We’re proud of them, and we keep encouraging them to keep learning and keep growing.”

Asheville continues their season this Saturday, June 12^th as they travel to SC United Bantams. WFC will have a week to prepare before their next match on June 16^th.

     Author:  Josh Dowdy,  @heartofauburn (twitter)
                     WPSL Contributor, South Region