The Blues looked inspiring against a Top-5 nationally-ranked opponent, but leave Alabama empty-handed.
The Women in Blue created a bevy of chances and held most of the possession, but could not find the elusive goal, falling 1-0 to Birmingham Legion WFC.
After a brief feeling out period, things ramped up in the 14th minute when a spectacular Rachel Logue block stopped a dangerous Legion shot from reaching the net. Three minutes later, Kelly Gordon charged down the right flank and whipped a ball into the box, but Birmingham goalkeeper Brooklyn Vann was quick off her line to snag the cross before Hedda Ornberg could reach it.
Ornberg then had one of the day’s best chances when a through ball found her behind the Legion backline, but Vann made a spectacular stop in a 1-on-1 situation to keep things level.
Four minutes later, Birmingham found the breakthrough when Taylor Leib capped off a counterattack with a tidy finish, giving the Legion a 1-0 lead.
The Blues had a chance to equalize right before the break when Lucie Bertrand hopped on a rebound outside the box. Bertrand sent a blistering strike toward the upper right corner of the goal that forced a diving save from Vann as the Blues entered the break trailing 1-0.
Asheville ramped up the pressure in the opening 20 minutes of the second half, creating a handful of dangerous chances. Ornberg had a shot saved by Vann who pushed it into the center of the box where a sliding Bertrand narrowly missed finding the equalizer.
Caitlin Conroy stung the crossbar from far outside the box in the 61st minute, before Ornberg narrowly missed the inside of the far post a minute later.
A miraculous defensive sequence from the Blues kept things within a goal in the 65th minute. Gaby Rourke made a phenomenal leaping save before Conroy and Logue helped snuff out the chance with a pair of fantastic blocks inside the box.
Asheville City kept pushing and mustered a few more chances but could not solve the Legion backline as the hosts walked away with a 1-0 victory.
Rachel Logue was named the Wicked Pie Player of the Match for her efforts on the night.
The road trip continues for the Women in Blue as they head to Tennessee to take on the Chattanooga Red Wolves on Saturday at 2:30 PM and One Knoxville SC next Wednesday at 7:00 PM. The Men in Blue return home on Saturday when they host Port City FC at 6:30 PM. You can buy your tickets here.
