The Men of Asheville City scored a 4-2 win over the Dalton Red Wolves at Greenwood Field on June 24, powered by a pair of substitute goals.

The first bit of danger came for Asheville in the 18th minute. Quenzi Huerman would switch the field to Scott Vatne, who received the feed at the top of the box. Vatne would lay it off for Josiah Blanton whose near-post strike would go just wide.

In the 25th minute however, the Blues would find the breakthrough. Kieran Richards would win the ball in the midfield and pass it to Huerman, who would toe-poke it into space on the right flank for Max Miller. Miller would slide a pass back across the 6 for Huerman for an easy tap-in and a 1-0 lead.

In the 35th minute Asheville would come dangerously close to finding another. Miller would hop on an errant backpass from the Dalton backline and would take it around a defender before launching a rocket of a shot towards goal but it would just sail over the bar.

Dalton would find the equalizer in the 39th minute. Off of a corner, the Red Wolves would flick on the ball at the near post but it would leave the box. Frank Rodriguez was able to get to it first and send a diagonal to the left touchline to Rasmus Andersson whose cross would find the head of Former Blue Jack Stainrod and his header would find the back of the net and even the score.

In the 57th minute, Asheville would jump back out in front. Richards received a pass from Malcolm Ward in midfield and sent a through ball that split the defense to Blanton in the halfspace. Blanton would drive towards the keeper and fake a shot to get him off-balance before sliding the ball through his legs to put the Blues back ahead.

In the 62nd minute Asheville would almost find a third when Matty Cornish’s corner kick found Franc Gamiz on the 6 but his header would smash against the crossbar.

Miller would almost link up with Clay Obara in the 77th minute for the Blues third when he was released down the left flank. His cross would get past Dalton goalkeeper Michael Barrueta but it was just overcooked a bit as the feet of a sliding Obara narrowly missed making contact.

However, the Blues would find a 3rd when Liam Healey’s wondergoal in the 79th minute extended Asheville’s lead to 2. Alec McKinley would send a pass out wide to Juan Ballas, who would send it back into the middle to Healey outside of the box. Healey would then unleash a rocket from about 30 yards out that would fly into the upper corner and give Asheville a 3-1 lead.

“I looked down and hit it. I knew it was going in as soon as it left my foot but obviously buzzing, a big goal,” said Healey.

In the 85th minute, Ballas received a backheel pass from Cornish and sent a cross over to Clay Obara alone on the semicircle of the box. Obara tried to set up for a shot and released a strike after getting the ball on his right foot but it was blocked by a sliding Red Wolves defender.

The Red Wolves would pull within one in the 89th minute. After solid passing play, Stainrod laid it off for Joshua Ramos on the edge of the box. Ramos darted to the left side of the box and cranked a shot at the near post that went in and would decrease Asheville’s lead to 3-2.

The Blues would restore their 2-goal lead though in stoppage time when Matty Cornish’s curling freekick from the left-central area outside of the box struck the bottom of the right post but ricocheted out to the edge of the box. Obara rushed in and roofed a booming one-time shot with his left foot into the upper left corner to put Asheville back in front 4-2.

The Blues would almost make it 5 when Olivier Correa chased down a rolling ball to Barrueta who fumbled it but a Dalton defender was able to clear it before Correa could get a chance to get a shot off and the game would finish 4-2 in favor of Asheville.

“I think there were some areas there tonight that were a little off tonight but it is to be expected because we’ve had ten days off. But if you can win a game and not play your best it's the sign of a very good team,” said Head Coach Scott Wells.

For his efforts on the night, Liam Healey was awarded the Highland Brewing Wishing Star of the Match.

The Men will now travel to Columbia for a pivotal matchup with the SC United Bantams on June 27th.

The Women in Blue will head to Greenville on June 28th to take on the Liberty. 

Next weekend, on July 1, join Asheville City and Just Play for a very special night to recognize and honor the very first US Women's Nation Team. 

"I want this weekend to cement the 1985ers as a critical piece of the USWNT. We are part of this history and we have a story that has never been told,” explained Asheville City co-owner and former USWNT player, Stacey Enos. 

Michelle Akers, also a member of the 1985 team, echoed the statement. “The 2023 WWC is about to kick off and our USWNT is after its 5th World Cup title and third championship in a row. Incredibly, this team and its 38 year legacy of unprecedented world domination all began with 17 badass women in 1985 as the first ever USWNT. That first team set the stage for the greatness and warrior mentality of the American game today, and yet their story is largely unknown. This event though is part of changing that! It’s always an honor to wear the USWNT jersey, but for this inaugural event and as the first ever USWNT it is truly special.”