Asheville -- (WLOS) The Women of Asheville City SC jumped ahead with an early goal and never looked back, scoring a 2-0 win over Birmingham Legion WFC in front of a lively crowd at Greenwood Field.
Things kicked off in the 10th minute when Asheville opened the scoring. Rachel Logue played a splitting throughball that found Caitlin Conroy on the right flank. Conroy darted into the box and squared it to Emma Sheehan who opened her Asheville City account to put the Blues up 1-0.
In the 26th minute, a loose ball found its way to Emma Sheehan in the center right outside the 6th. Sheehan was able to get a couple of attempts off but the Birmingham keeper was equal to both and the ball bounced out for a goalkick.
The Blues almost found a second in the dying embers of the first half, when Yuliia Khrystiuk was taken down on the left flank. The ensuing set piece was passed on the ground to Khrystiuk on the left corner of the box who fired it towards the net but the ball sailed right over the crossbar.
The Blues would find their second, however, as six minutes into the second half great buildup play left the ball with Phoebe Hollin on the right side. She played a beautiful cross over to an unmarked Gry Boe Thrysoe at the far post to head it home to extend the Blues lead to 2-0.
12 minutes after that, an errant clearance fell to Sarah Jacobs on the edge of the box in the middle. Jacobs tried to finesse the ball into the bottom right corner but the attempt would roll just wide.
The chances kept coming for Asheville, as in the 68th minute Lu Flores jumped on a loose ball on the left and drove towards goal. She tried firing a shot nearside but it went just wide. Then Caitlin Conroy would steal the goalkick and send it over to Lucie Bertand on the edge of the box who ripped a shot that was deflected over to Thrysoe who shot it directly at the keeper.
The Blues then put on a defensive clinic to see out the game, stifling the Legion's chance to ride it out to a 2-0 victory.
Gry Boe Thrysoe was awarded the Noble Cider Player of the Match award for her efforts in the match which included a goal.
The Women return home to Greenwood Field on Wednesday, May 28th for their third game of their four-game homestand as One Knoxville comes to town seeking revenge for the Blues' win in Knoxville during their USL W League opener earlier on this season.