The Women of Asheville used a big 2nd half to score a massive 4-0 victory over Charlotte Independence.

The first major chance of the game came for the Independence in the 14th minute when they were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position. The attempt was directed towards the bottom right corner but Lauren Kellett was able to get down and direct the ball wide of the post, a save which earned The Local Barber Shop and Tap Close Save of the Match.

In the 24th minute after the Independence withstood a couple of Asheville corners, they would create a chance of their own. After some chaos, the ball fell to a Charlotte attacker on the right corner of the 6 but Kellett would come out to cut off the angle and the shot would go wide of the post.

A minute later, Parker Roberts and Addie Porter would play a nice one-two that would free Roberts on the left corner just inside the 18. Roberts would blast a shot towards the goal but the attempt would go just wide.

The Blues would find the breakthrough in the 33rd minute, courtesy of Jacqueline Barnes. Porter again was involved in creating danger for Asheville as after Azalea Mihalovic would send a through ball to release her towards the touchline on the right flank, Porter’s cross would meet Barnes at the back post to give the Blues a 1-0 lead.

Asheville would almost find another with two chances before the break. In the 41st minute, a backpass would find Abby Boyan open on the edge of the box, but her shot would whistle over the bar. In stoppage time a cross would find Riley Thompson right in the middle of the box, but after taking the ball down from the air, she was unable to place her shot on frame.

The Women in Blue would waste no time getting going in the second half as in the 47th minute Emily Thompson would win the second ball off of an Independence goal kick and place a beautiful flick past the Charlotte defense and into the path of Porter who would slot the ball home at the near post to extend the Asheville lead to 2. 

In the 55th minute, Porter would find the back of the net again. After receiving a cross from substitute Lindsey Cook, Porter found herself wide open for a tap-in as the pouring rain and goals kept coming in Asheville, with the Blues up 3-0.

That would not be Cook’s only contribution off the bench, as in the 78th minute an Asheville corner led to chaos in the box and Cook would pounce on the loose ball and stuff it home to give Asheville a 4-0 lead.

Asheville kept the Independence attack at bay while keeping the pressure on the Charlotte backline for the final few minutes of the match but none would find the back of the net as the game would finish 4-0 in favor of the Blues.

For her efforts in the match, Eileen Murphy was awarded the Highland Brewing Wishing Star of the Match.

Up next for the Women, is a trip to Greensboro on June 6th for a date with the NC Fusion.

After earning 7 points on a 3-game road trip, the Men will return home to Greenwood Field on June 6th as they host Southern Soccer Academy.