2026 Post Game Recaps

The Men in Blue used a strong defensive performance to earn a clean sheet at rival Hickory FC and punch their ticket to the playoffs via a 0-0 draw.

Asheville earned the first chance of the night when Momo Diop slalomed through the Hickory backline and got off a quick shot headed for the bottom corner that was pushed away by Daniel Miklosi.

The Blues dominated possession for the rest of the half, but the last chance came to Hickory. A beautiful cross was deflected on net, but Tommy Viscuso held strong and made the save as things went into halftime scoreless.

The second half essentially copied the first, with little danger being produced from either side.

In the 74th minute, Viscuso made a brilliant save that turned into a counter-attack. Henry Jeffcott then lobbed the ball into the box intended for Joaquin Brizuela, but the Hickory defender was able to clear the ball.

In the 95th minute, Hickory looked to break on the counter, but a brilliant tackle by Dylan Lane won the ball back. Diop hopped on the loose ball and drove into space before releasing a low-driven shot towards the bottom left corner that Miklosi barely kept out of the net. The Blues defended one last corner kick from Hickory before the whistle sounded, as the Blues earned the point that they needed to clinch their spot in the USL League Two playoffs!

The Blues will now wait until tomorrow, Sunday, July 12th, to find out the location and opponent for their play-in round match scheduled for Tuesday, July 14th. Stay tuned to the club’s social media accounts for the announcement.

The Women in Blue put up a valiant effort on the road, but ultimately fell 1-0 to the Vermont Green in the USL W League National Semifinals.

Vermont started hot, getting off a close-range shot a minute into the match, but Lilly Heaslet was there to snag it.

The Blues pushed back immediately, getting a pair of shots just around six minutes later from Caitlin Conroy and Sarah Gorham that both just narrowly missed finding the upper ninety.

Vermont created a one-on-one opportunity five minutes later for Emily Mara, but Heaslet was quick off her line and took away enough of the angle to where Mara’s attempt rolled wide.

The Blues had another threatening chance come their way in the 21st minute, when Lucie Bertrand’s cross from the left flank found the head of Lauryn Mateo, but her attempt went wide. Play stiffened up shortly after, with little to no danger coming from either side, as the match went into the break scoreless.

The Green found the opener in the 56th minute, when Mara was freed up inside the box and roofed a clinical finish to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

The Blues quickly flipped the field and dominated possession for the next 20 minutes before Vermont had pushback of their own, forcing a pair of saves from Heaslet.

The best Asheville chance came in the 80th minute. A pair of “dummies” by the Asheville forwards guided the ball to Brooke Pearson inside of the box on the left side, but she dragged her near-post shot just wide.

The Blues earned a corner in stoppage time, but Vermont was able to clear their lines after a bit of chaos as the Blues’ season came to a close.

Thank you, Blues fans, for all of your support this season! Although this is not the ending we wanted, we are so proud to have had you with us every step of the way.

The Blues used a clinical performance in front of the net to beat NCFC U23 in Raleigh and inch closer to their fifth-straight USL League 2 playoff appearance.

The Blues got things started early when Ashton Bilow hopped on an errant pass from the NCFC keeper and one-touch finished it into the right side netting for the opener.

Nine minutes later, Mitch Picksley nearly found another, but his near-post shot was saved by Mason Cranford.

Tommy Viscuso was called into action in the 37th minute and made a great sliding stop from point-blank range to keep the Blues in front. NCFC would level it four minutes later, however, as the match went into the half tied at one.

Newcomer Momo Diop almost broke the deadlock three minutes after the restart, but Cranford made a diving save to push it wide. Liam Jones scored a header off the ensuing corner, but it was called back for a foul.

Diop would not be denied eleven minutes later, however, as he opened his Asheville account to make it 2-1 to the Blues. Great build-up play by the Blues created an opportunity that was blocked, but only as far as Diop on the edge of the box, who tucked his finish into the bottom right corner to restore the Blues’ lead.

Gustavo Barbosa and Bilow both had great opportunities over the next 25 minutes, but neither could find the insurance goal from the Blues. Finally, in the 97th minute, the Asheville lead was doubled courtesy of Lior Holtz. Holtz shuttled the ball from the midfield to around 30 yards out from the goal before he unleashed a screamer into the upper right corner for his first goal of the season and a 3-1 Asheville win.

The Men in Blue wrap up their regular season on the road on July 11th at 7:00 PM when they take on Hickory FC. A point or more from the match would clinch the 5th-straight USL League 2 playoff appearance for the Men in Blue.

After 120 scoreless minutes, the Women in Blue converted all four penalty kicks while FC Miami City missed two, as the Blues won their second-straight Southern Conference Championship and advanced to the USL W League National Semifinals.

Miami had the first dangerous opportunity of the match when they fired a point-blank shot on frame, but Lilly Heaslet made a brilliant reactionary save.

Twelve minutes later, Juli Viera charged down the left wing and slid a ball across the mouth of goal, but no Blue was able to latch onto it and tap it home. Lauryn Mateo hopped on a rebound on the right side of the net a minute later and fired a tight-angle shot that narrowly missed the goal.

Right before half, Naroa Domenech had a header opportunity at the back post, but Madison Vukas was there to make the save.

A few minutes after the break, Caitlin Conroy unleashed a powerful shot from the right side that produced a rebound that bounced to Lauryn Mateo, but her attempt on net was blocked. 

Thirteen minutes later, Sarah Gorham tried to pick out the bottom-left corner from the edge of the box, but her attempt rolled just wide. Gorham had another chance two minutes later during a goal box scramble, but her sliding shot was blocked by a Miami defender. The match remained scoreless and went into extra time.

A back-and-forth extra 30 minutes ensued, with the best chance coming from the Blues in the 98th minute. Brooke Pearson was played in behind and rocketed a shot from inside the goalbox that forced a fingertip save out of Vukas. No victor would be decided in extra time, so the match moved onto penalty kicks.

The Blues quartet of Phoebe Hollin, Maeo, Anae Malbete, and Sarah Gorham were perfect through four rounds, while Miami had a miss. Heaslet made a great save on Miami’s fifth penalty, but was ruled to have moved in front of the goal line, so Miami was given a re-take. The penalty taker then blazed her re-take attempt over the bar, giving the Blues their 2nd-straight Southern Conference title.

Lilly Heaslet was named the Wicked Pie Player of the Match for her efforts on the night, which included a shutout.

The Women in Blue now head up North to take on the Vermont Green on July 11th in the National Semifinals. The winner will face the winner of the Salmon Bay FC vs. Minnesota Aurora FC match in the USL W League National Championship.

Three first half goals were all the Blues needed, as Asheville City advanced to their second-straight USL W League South Conference Final with a 3-0 win over Lonestar SC.

The Blues got things started quickly, breaking through in the 13th minute. Juli Viera launched a rocket of a half-volley from the edge of the box into the upper right corner for an early Asheville lead. 

Sarah Gorham tried a long-range rip in the 25th minute that forced a diving save from Caroline Dill. 

Fourteen minutes later, Viera doubled the Asheville lead. Naroa Domenech hopped on a loose ball on the left side of the box and slid it back into the middle. It took a couple of deflections around the box before falling to Viera, who blasted her near-post finish past Dill to double the Blues’ lead. 

Asheville didn’t stop there however, adding another goal four minutes later. Caitlin Conroy ran down a loose ball but was beaten to it by Dill. However, Dill’s clearance ricocheted off her own defender and into the net for a 3-0 Asheville lead heading into the break. 

The second half saw much less action as the Blues managed the game effectively. However, twenty minutes into the half saw a dangerous chance go both ways. 

First, Conroy jumped on a bouncing ball from the corner and let one fly from the edge of the box but she narrowly missed the upper right corner. Not even a minute later, Finley Schoenbeck found herself in a one-on-one with Lilly Heaslet, but her shot from the left side rang off the crossbar. 

Seven minutes later, Brooke Pearson found herself behind the Lonestar defense in a one-on-one opportunity but Dill kept her shot out of the net. 

The rest of the match showcased the Blues’ strong team defense, as they kept Lonestar off the scoresheet for a 3-0 win to advance to the Southern Conference Finals. 

Juli Viera was named the Wicked Pie Player of the Match for her efforts on the night, which included two goals. 

The Women in Blue return to Greenwood Field on Sunday, July 5th when they host FC Miami City as the Blues look for their second-straight Southern Conference Championship. Kickoff is set for 6:00 PM. You can buy your tickets here.

In a heated match between two familiar opponents, the Men in Blue emerged as 2-0 winners behind late goals from Liam Jones and Alejandro Padilla.

South Carolina created the first bit of danger in the match when they stung the crossbar in the 3rd minute. They nearly scored again in the 18th minute but Tommy Viscuso made a great near post save to keep things level. 

The Blues got their first chance in the 24th minute when they earned a free kick on the left flank. Ashton Bilow sent in a nice ball that found Dante Huckaby in the middle of the box but his header was saved by Cooper Jennings.

Asheville nearly scored before half when Dominik Wicks, Jack McDaid, and Dominik Renz combined effectively, freeing up Renz behind the Bantams’ backline. Renz beat Jennings with a shot but it barely went wide of the net as the match went scoreless into half. 

Seven minutes after the restart, the Blues nearly capitalized on a mistake from the SCU backline. A cheeky pass by Jones was whiffed on by Jennings, but a Bantams defender was able to clear it out of the box before Renz could poke it in. 

A weather delay halted proceedings in the 53rd minute, and after play resumed the Blues grabbed a chokehold on the match and started dominating possession. The breakthrough came in the 71st minute, courtesy of Jones. Jones shuttled the ball from midfield into the attacking third before being knocked down 5 yards outside of the box. Jones immediately popped up, continued his solo effort, and placed a pinpoint finish past Jennings into the bottom left corner for a 1-0 lead.

Asheville doubled the lead 18 minutes later, when Jones sent a beautiful free kick into the mixer from the right half-space. Padilla rose above the back and headed it home for her first goal on the season and a 2-0 Asheville win.

Ashton Bilow was named the Wicked Pie Player of the Match for his efforts on the night. 

The Men in Blue currently sit in a wild card spot with two matches to go, both on the road. Winning one of the two would clinch the 5th straight playoff appearance for the Blues. They first play the NCFC U23s on July 5th before finishing off the regular season at Hickory FC on July 11th.

The Women in Blue return home to Greenwood Field on Friday, July 3rd for the Southern Conference Semifinals. The Charlotte Eagles play FC Miami City at 3:30 PM, before the Women in Blue face Lonestar SC at 7:00 PM in a rematch of last year’s Southern Conference Championship. The Southern Conference Finals will also be at Greenwood Field on Sunday, July 5th at 6:00 PM, featuring the two winners from Friday’s matches. You can buy your tickets here.

A late penalty from Franco Ocana lifted Asheville City SC over the previously undefeated Charlotte Independence 2 by a score of 1-0 on Monday night at Greenwood Field.

The Independence nearly found the opener in the 2nd minute when Marco Silva’s rocket from the edge of the box nailed the crossbar and ricocheted away. 

The Blues nearly struck twice off of corners in the 12th and 32nd minutes respectively, but Dominik Renz and Dante Huckaby’s headers both went over the bar. 

A dangerous free kick was awarded to the Blues just outside the box in the 40th minute and Franco Ocana stepped up to take it. Ocana curled his free kick up and over the Independence wall and nearly beat Juan Martinez to the lower left corner but Martinez made a diving save. 

Charlotte mustered three shots on goal in the final five minutes of the half but Viscuso made three brilliant saves as the two sides went into the half scoreless. 

The Blues created the first two dangerous chances of the half within the first 10 minutes after the break. First, Ashton Bilow charged down the pitch in transition and got off a sneaky quick shot from just outside the box that Martinez just managed to keep out. Two minutes later, Mitch Picksley used a brilliant solo effort to get into the box but slipped on his shot, sending the attempt wide. 

In the 73rd minute, great combination play found Tyler Trimnal on the left flank who nearly curled his shot inside of the far post but a diving Martinez pushed it wide. 

Charlotte nearly broke through in the 76th minute when a beautiful ball to the back post found Noah Behrmann but he touched it just wide. 

Six minutes later the Blues found the opener. Tyler Trimnal was taken down in the box by a dangerous tackle, and Asheville was awarded a penalty. Ocana stepped up to take the kick. He sent Martinez the wrong way and passed the ball into the net for his 7th goal of the season and a 1-0 Asheville lead. 

The Blues dominated possession the rest of the way as the Independence struggled to break down the Asheville defense, earning ACSC a 1-0 win at Greenwood Field. 

Jack McDaid was named the Wicked Pie Player of the Match for his efforts on the night.

The Blues return home to Greenwood Field for Retro Night on Wednesday, July 1st at a newly-scheduled time of 5:20 PM when the SC United Bantams come to town. 

Asheville City will also host the USL W League Southern Conference Semifinals and Finals at Greenwood Field this weekend. In the Semifinals on Friday, July 3rd the Charlotte Eagles play FC Miami City at 3:30 PM, while Asheville City hosts Lonestar SC at 7:00 PM. The Southern Conference Finals will be on Sunday, July 5th at 6:00 PM and will feature the two winners of Friday’s matches. You can buy your tickets here.

Two goals from Lauryn Mateo were enough to push the Blues past the Birmingham Legion by a score of 2-1. With the win, Asheville City clinched its second straight South Central Division Title and booked its third straight trip to the USL W League playoffs.

The Blues got off to a quick start in the 8th minute, when Phoebe Hollin ripped a long-range strike that was saved but produced a juicy rebound that landed on the goal line. Lauryn Mateo pounced on the rebound and tapped it in to give the Blues an early 1-0 lead.

Twenty-two minutes later, Juli Viera nearly doubled the lead when her strike from the corner of the 18 beat Brooklyn Vann but rang off the crossbar.

Immediately after, Destiny Udeh got behind the Blues’ defense for a one-on-one opportunity but Lilly Heaslet was equal to the task to preserve the Blues’ lead.

Right before the break, Maya Leoni let a shot fly from 30 yards out that nearly snuck into the bottom right corner but Vann pushed it wide as the Blues went into half up 1-0.

Mateo struck again six minutes into the second half to double the lead. The Blues earned a freekick on the left flank which Juli Viera stepped up to take. Viera took a kick that caught the Legion backline off-guard and aimed it at the near post where Mateo headed it home to put the Blues up 2-0.

Twelve minutes later, Mateo sent a ball from the left flank to Sarah Gorham inside the box. Gorham settled it then struck a half-volley that looked headed for the net but was deflected wide.

The Legion pulled one back when they earned a penalty five minutes later. Martha Bishop stepped up and slotted the penalty home to cut the Legion’s deficit to one. The Blues subsequently subbed on four fresh players and immediately regained control of the game.

Sarah Gorham forced a turnover in the 78th minute and had her shot saved, before hopping on a rebound on the edge of the box two minutes later and nailing the crossbar with her shot.

The Legion could not break the Blues’ press as they were hemmed in their own half. Hedda Ornberg, Rachel Logue, and Lucy Sloan all mustered dangerous shots but could not beat Vann. 

The Blues finally put the game to rest in the 93rd minute when Brooke Pearson got in behind and charged towards goal. The Blues moved the ball around the Legion’s goalbox. Even though they could not find the back of the net, they drained enough clock as time ran out on the Legion’s season and the Blues clinched a second straight South Central Division title. 

Rachel Logue was named the Wicked Pie Player of the Match for her efforts on the night.

With the win, the Blues qualified for the 2026 USL W League Playoffs and will host matches this weekend at Greenwood Field!

Details:

Friday, June 3rd:

Charlotte Eagles vs FC Miami City – 3:30 PM

Asheville City SC vs Lonestar SC – 7:00 PM

Sunday, June 5th:

USL W League Southern Conference Finals – 6:00 PM

Tickets

The Men in Blue return home tomorrow (Monday, June 29th) when division leaders Charlotte Independence II comes to town. Kickoff is set for 6:30 PM. You can buy your tickets here.

On Friday night in Asheville, the Men in Blue scored a gritty 2-0 win over the Charlotte Eagles behind goals from Franco Ocana and Mitch Picksley. 

The Blues had the first dangerous chance of the match in the 21st minute, when Picksley’s long-range strike stung the palms of Eagles’ keeper Jarret Wuerslin and produced a juicy rebound but the Eagles got there first to clean it up. 

Seven minutes later, the Blues finally broke through courtesy of Ocana. Ocana capitalized on a turnover from the Eagles’ backline, darted into the box, and placed a well-hit finish past Wuerslin to take a 1-0 lead. 

Three minutes later, Ocana nearly found another when he launched a shot from midfield that almost caught Wuerslin off his line but the keeper recovered. 

The Eagles nearly leveled things in the 43rd minute, but Tommy Viscuso made a diving save to preserve Asheville’s lead going into the break. 

The second half saw the Blues dominate possession but they struggled to connect on the final action to score. The Eagles nearly got a shot off inside the box in the 72nd minute, but Dante Huckaby’s sliding block kept it from going on frame. 

The Blues capped things off in the 85th minute when Mitch Picksley jumped on an errant backpass and dribbled past the Eagles’ defenders before chipping Wuerslin to double the lead as the Blues earned a 2-0 victory at home. 

Dante Huckaby was named the Wicked Pie Player of the Match for his efforts on the night. 

The Men in Blue return home on Monday, June 29th when division leaders Charlotte Independence II comes to town. Kickoff is set for 6:30 PM. 

The Women in Blue are home on Sunday, June 28th when they face Birmingham Legion WFC in a match that will decide the South Central Division and a trip to the playoffs. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 PM. You can buy your tickets here.

The Men in Blue gutted out a 2-1 away win over Salem City FC in Winston-Salem, powered by goals from Dante Huckaby and Dominik Renz.

The Blues struck early after earning a corner in the 8th minute. The ball took a few bounces after the service into the box before Dante Huckaby half-volleyed it past Benny Howard to give Asheville City a 1-0 lead.

Salem City leveled things in the 39th minute after withstanding pressure from the Blues and hitting them on the counter. Amir Simpson found himself in space and made no mistake on his 1-on-1 opportunity to tie things up at one a piece.

The Blues leaped back ahead in the 72nd minute, courtesy of Dominik Renz. A mishit pass by the Salem City backline fell straight to Renz, who buried it to put the Blues in front in the 72nd minute.

A nervy moment occurred for the Blues in the 90th minute, when Tommy Viscuso was caught on an island with a Salem City forward on the right side of the box. The forward tried to dribble around Viscuso who stuck his foot out to make a crucial intervention and end the danger as the Blues held on for a 2-1 win.

Ashton Bilow was named the Wicked Pie Player of the Match for his efforts on the night.

The Men in Blue return home on Friday, June 26th when the Charlotte Eagles come to town for a 7:00 PM kick. The Warren Haynes x Official League x ACSC merch collaboration will be released that day and will be available for purchase at the match. You can buy your tickets here.