ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The Asheville City women’s team erased a second-half deficit with three goals in 10 minutes Tuesday to take down Southern Soccer Academy in Atlanta and remain unbeaten.
Southern Soccer Academy got things rolling in the 16th minute when a shot hit toward Alison Little was saved, but the rebound was cleaned up by Alexandra Gib to find the opener for the hosts.
The Blues scratched and clawed for an equalizer before the break but were unable to find one and went into the break trailing for the first time all season.
When the goals finally came for the relentless Asheville attack, they came in a bunch. In the 69th minute, a long goal kick by Little got over the first line of SSA defense and then was flicked on by a header over the backline and into the path of Yuliia Khrystiuk, who placed a composed finish past the keeper and made things level at 1.
A minute later, Caitlin Conroy was fouled hard and taken down inside the box, earning a penalty kick for Asheville. Phoebe Hollin stepped up to take the kick and nailed it past the SSA goalie on the left side, and the Blues found themselves on top 2-1 in the 71st minute.
Conroy got a goal of her own in the 76th minute, when Kelly Gordon played a nice through ball that found Khrystiuk in the left half-space. Khrystiuk darted into the box and laid a ball off for Conroy in the middle. Conroy struck a tidy finish home into the bottom left to give the Blues a 3-1 lead, which is how the scoreline finished.
Sarah Gorham was awarded the Noble Cider Player of the Match award for her efforts.
The women have two more matches remaining on the road before returning home for a 4 p.m. June 15 faceoff against the Chattanooga Red Wolves. The men of Asheville City return to Greenwood Field on June 4 to host Southern Soccer Academy at 7:30 p.m.. Buy tickets here.