Blues dominate posession but can not find the breakthrough as they share the points with Swarm FC
The Women of Asheville City controlled play and dominated possession, but were unable to find the winner, as they split the points with Swarm FC in a scoreless draw at Greenwood Field on Saturday night.
Action started in the 13th minute, when Juliana Viera sent a ball through the box from the left flank that rolled through, but was picked up on the opposite wing by Hedda Ornberg. Ornberg squared it back to Viera on the edge of the box, but Viera’s shot aimed for the bottom right corner was saved by Graycen Ehlen.
In the 24th minute, a Swarm counter ended with the ball finding Monigo Karnley in the center of the box near the 18. Karnley blasted a shot on frame, but Gaby Rourke was equal to the attempt.
A great bit of the play from the Blues nearly found the opener in the 40th minute, when a diagonal ball found Lu Flores in the center of the pitch. Flores sent a curling ball towards the back post that found a leaping Ornberg, but her volley attempt hit the side of the cage.
In the dying embers of the first half, Lucie Bertrand almost snuck one past the Swarm backline, but Ehlen parried it wide to keep things knotted up going into the break.
After a boring first 15 minutes of the second half, the Blues ramped up the pressure. Caitlin Conroy sent a ball from the right side of the pitch into the box. The ball deflected off a Swarm defender and landed at Ornberg’s feet but her attempt went narrowly wide.
The Blues mustered a few more half-chances, but nothing too threatening until the 76th minute. Brooke Pearson collected the ball and started shuttling down the right flank, before sending a beautiful curling ball to switch fields to Ornberg. Ornberg settled it and took it past a Swarm defender for a one-on-one chance with the keeper, but Ehlen managed to get enough on the shot to keep it out of the net.
The Blues kept pushing as Viera, Pearson, and Maya Leoni all sent well-hit strikes towards the net, but none found home.
The Blues earned one last chance in the 90th minute when they were awarded a corner. The ball pinballed off a couple of players before landing at Leoni’s feet. Leoni cranked a rocket towards goal, but it did not find its way through traffic and was cleared as the match ended in a scoreless draw.
Gry Boe Thrysoe was named the Wicked Pie Player of the Match for her efforts on the night.
The Blues return home to Greenwood Field on Saturday, May 23rd as part of another doubleheader. The Women take on One Knoxville at 3:30, while the Men face Charlotte Independence 2 at 7:00. You can buy your tickets here.
