In the USL W League Match of the Week, the Women in Blue put on a dominant, clinical performance en route to a 4-0 thrashing of 3rd place Swarm FC. The Blues’ relentless press caused issues for Swarm FC, who never really got things going on Saturday afternoon.
It was all Asheville early, with the first dangerous chance coming the Blues’ way in the 10th minute. Naroa Domenech and Gry Boe Thrysoe played a beautiful one-two on the left flank that freed up Thrysoe inside the box. Thrysoe tried sneaking a grounded shot past Swarm keeper Graycen Ehlen at the near post, but Ehlen scooped it up.
Asheville dominated possession for the next 20 minutes, creating a plethora of half-chances before Hedda Ornberg nearly found the breakthrough. Kelly Gordon drove down the left flank and picked out Ornberg at the back post with a beautiful cross but a diving Ehlen pushed the attempt wide to keep things level.
The Blues finally found the opener in the 39th minute, courtesy of Naroa Domenech. Domenech forced a turnover from a Swarm defender in the middle of the park just outside the goal box. She outmuscled the defender to create space, before lifting her finish over Ehlen and another Swarm defender on the goal line to put Asheville ahead, 1-0.
The Blues doubled their lead a minute later when Caitlin Conroy picked out Ornberg with a lovely over-the-top ball on the right side. Ornberg squared the ball up while entering the box and rifled a shot inside the far post to double the Asheville lead right before the break.
The Blues kept their foot on the gas pedal in the second half, as Domenech nearly bagged her 2nd goal in the 53rd minute. Domenech hopped on a rebound in the center of the box and sent a strike at net that looked earmarked to dip under the crossbar, but Ehlen’s fingertip save kept the Swarm within two.
The scariest moment for the Asheville backline came in the 58th minute, when a Monigo Karnley cross-cum-shot from the left flank nearly found the upper right corner, but Gaby Rourke leaped up and punched it wide to preserve the Blues’ two-goal lead.
Five minutes later, Ornberg found herself in a one-on-one opportunity against Ehlen, but Ehlen once again made a strong point-blank save to keep her team in the match.
The Blues finally nabbed their third in the 66th minute, when a great Asheville build-up made its way to Lu Flores in the left half-space. Flores put an absolute screamer about as far in the upper right corner as humanly possible to increase the lead to three.
The Blues tacked on one more in the 87th minute, when Katie Zailski leaped up and beat a Swarm defender to the header for her first goal of the season as the Blues cruised to a 4-0 victory.
Kelly Gordon was named the Wicked Pie Player of the Match for her efforts on the night.
The Blues return home next Saturday, June 20th, for Pride Night when they take on the Chattanooga Red Wolves. Kickoff for the match is scheduled for 7:00 PM. You can buy your tickets here.
