ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The Women of Asheville City battled to a high-octane 3-3 draw against Southern Soccer Academy in the home opener Saturday at Greenwood Field.
Asheville got things started in the 13th minute with an incredible set piece routine that found the back of the net. Yuliia Khyrstiuk passed the cornerkick on the ground along the endline to Lucia Flores, who rerouted the ball out of the goalbox to Juli Viera on the right flank. Viera collected it and whipped a cross to Gry Boe Thrysoe on the left side of the box. Thrysoe headed it back across the mouth of goal, where it found a charging Caitlin Conroy, who headed it in at the far post to give the Blues an early 1-0 lead.
Southern Soccer Academy would knot things up in the 30th minute after the press forced a turnover along the endline on the left side just inside the goal box. The attacker laid off a pass to a teammate that shot it and although Alison Little made the original save the rebound was knocked home as the game was tied 1-1.
In the 34th minute, Asheville City would move ahead as Conroy would capitalize on a setpiece once again. From the opposite cornerflag than the last, Khrystiuk found a streaking Thrysoe at the backpost whose lunging effort hit off of the near post setting off a mad scramble. The ball was knocked back into the middle from the left by an SSA defender where it found Conroy who was able to get a boot on it and slot it home to put the hosts back ahead.
A minute later things were level again, as a cross-turned-shot from the left flank hung up in the air and went over the outstretched finger tips of Little and snuck just under the crossbar to make things level at 2-2.
Asheville would once again take the lead in the 50th minute when a backpass from the left flank from SSA went awry and split two defenders, essentially putting Molly Dwyer in on goal who hopped on the errant pass and put it between the keeper’s legs and into the back of the net to put the Blues up 3-2.
SSA would strike again however, as a long ball from the other side of the pitch was sent over the backline of Asheville City as an SSA forward would run onto the bouncing ball and jump and lift it over Little and into the net to tie things up once again.
Both teams would garner a couple more chances but none would find the back of the net as the game would end in a 3-3 draw.
The Women in Blue will also be home on May 24 as they host Birmingham Legion WFC at 4:30 p.m. as part of a double-header in tandem with the men’s team as they kick off their South Central Division title defense against league newcomer Apotheos FC at 7:30 p.m. Purchase tickets for those games here.