The Women in Blue earned a scrappy 1-0 win over FC Carolinas in the second to last home match of the season on June 20th.

The Blues created their first bit of danger early when they were awarded a corner kick in the 3rd minute. Ilana Izqueirdo’s corner led to a scramble in the box. The ball would fall to Maison Wells on the left side of the 6th but her near-post attempt was saved by Laura Vogt.

In the 30th minute, nice combination play from the Blues led to a half-volley rip from Izquierdo just outside the 6 on the right side, but her attempt that seemed destined for the far lower corner was blocked away by the FCC defense.

Some great passing from the Blues led to a decent chance for Wells on the left side of the box in the 36th minute, but her near-post shot was thwarted by Vogt.

Asheville looked to break the deadlock early in the 2nd half when Abby Boyan received a feed on the right wing. Boyan would slide a pass across the 6 from that found Riley Thompson who directed it towards the bottom right corner but her attempt was saved.

Boyan would create another opportunity in the 58th minute, finding Wells on the left side of the box who fired a skipping shot towards the keeper that she would bobble but eventually fall on top of to end the chance.

In the 60th minute, the Women in Blue would finally find the breakthrough. Wells sent a cross that found Izquierdo in the center of the box, who turned and fired a shot towards the lower left side of the net. The chance was saved off of the line by an FCC defender but her clearance attempt would strike a teammate in the back and bounce into the net for a 1-0 Asheville lead.

“Full of energy, that’s what Maison is. She picks her head up and she is very confident pushing the ball into space, turning the corner, and then getting the ball across into dangerous spaces. I thought she did very well at that today,” said Head Coach Billy Lesesne.

In the 75th minute, a penalty kick was awarded to FC Carolinas after a foul in the box. After a stoppage due to some jostling outside of the box and a lengthy run-up the shot would roll way wide of the right post and keep Asheville out in front.

FCC would keep pushing for a goal but the Asheville backline would do a great job of not conceding really any dangerous chances, and the Women in Blue would come away with a 1-0 win.

“It was a very scrappy game so figuring out a game plan and figuring out a way to manufacture a goal that helps us get points and it was good to see that the team stuck with it and were able to manage it,” said Lesesne.

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

“Parker’s just so solid at the back. When we wanted to build out she was very composed on the ball and was able to help us build out,” said Lesesne. “And then when things got scrappy, you saw how many balls she stepped in front of players to win and was dominant in the air. She was defensively all over the place and did a really great job for us.”

Next up for the Women, a trip to Charlotte for a date with the Independence on June 24th.

For the Men, they host the Dalton Red Wolves at Greenwood Field on June 24th in their first matchup with them this season.