The women of Asheville secured a crucial three points on Tuesday night with a 3-1 comeback victory over Chattanooga Red Wolves SC. Despite trailing 0-1 at halftime, the Blues scored three consecutive goals in the second half, securing their second win over the Lady Red Wolves this season.

The first half of the match was dominated by Chattanooga, whose press overwhelmed the Blues, making it difficult to build up from the back. The Lady Red Wolves also controlled possession for much of the half, switching the ball from side-to-side while effectively attacking through the wings. 

The first significant moment of the match arrived in the 21st minute with a corner for Chattanooga. After receiving a dangerous cross near the front post, Kennedy Ball lightly laid the ball off for Clarissa Salinas, who, amidst a crowd of defenders, smoothly tapped it past Grace Laws for the opening goal, putting the Lady Red Wolves up 1-0.  

In the 35th minute, the Blues created their first clear opportunity of the half when Yulia Khrystiuk played a clever pass through multiple Chattanooga midfielders to Molly Dwyer. Dywer took a touch around her defender and launched a shot from outside of the box, landing straight into the hands of goalkeeper Sara Hill.

Ten minutes later, the women of Asheville nearly found a much-needed equalizer just before halftime. Following a layoff by Ilana Izquierdo in the midfield, Gry Boe Thrysoe quickly received the ball and fired a rising shot from distance, narrowly missing the crossbar. The Lady Red Wolves would go into halftime with a one goal advantage. 

Just two minutes into the second half, Grace Laws was called into action yet again. The Citadel goalkeeper made another impressive save as Zoey Mize dribbled into the box, cut towards the end line, and struck a bending shot towards the near post. Laws had an exceptional performance in goal as she filled in for Allison Little, making several excellent saves throughout the match. 

The Blues’ first opportunity of the second half came in the 53rd minute from a well-positioned free kick taken by Viera. The Uruguayan lofted a cross into the box, finding Lucie Bertrand, who took it first-time and bent a shot across the goal, forcing Hill to make a fantastic save. It wouldn't take much longer for them to find the equalizer. 

In the 57th minute, Asheville capitalized off a costly mistake from Lauren Alexander to level the score. Dwyer’s constant pressure paid off as she dispossessed Alexander and dribbled into the box, calmly slotting the ball past Hill for the equalizer. With the goal, the Blues shifted the momentum and gained control of the match, enabling them to do what they do best: building up from the back. 

The women of Asheville took the lead in the 69th minute thanks to a powerful strike from leading goalscorer Addie Porter. Facing no pressure in the midfield, Izquierdo swiftly played a fantastic through ball to Porter, who took a touch into the box and blasted a shot into the right corner, securing her 9th goal of the season. 

At this point in the match, Asheville looked as threatening as ever, dominating duels all over the pitch while easily penetrating Chattanooga’s backline. Just three minutes after the second goal, Naroa Domenech headed in a third off a perfect cross from Porter. The Vanderbilt striker received the ball in the box, dribbled past her defender, and delivered a left-footed cross across goal to Domenech, who knocked it in from close range to make it 3-1 to the Blues. 

Domenech and Porter nearly linked up for another goal in the 78th minute, but the opportunity slipped away due to a suspect pull of the jersey. The Spaniard sent a towering long ball over the backline, finding Porter, who speedily took it into the box and fired a shot over the bar as the defender grabbed a fistful of her jersey.  

The Blues continued to create chances going forward while defending well, eventually earning them their 6th victory of the season. When asked about which players impressed her the most, Coach Brooke Bingham answered, “all eleven of them. I think all of our players played a fantastic game. It took everybody on this team and on this roster to compete in and win that game.”

The women of Asheville have a quick turnaround as they will play sixth-place Birmingham Legion FC on the road this Thursday, June 21, at 7:00pm. The men return to action on Saturday, June 22, hosting second-place Dothan United in a huge match at Greenwood Field at 7:30pm.