In their inaugural home opener, the Richmond Ivy took down the Virginia Marauders, 1-0, behind a goal from midfielder Brianna Behm. The Ivy earned their first win in front of a capacity sellout crowd of 6,000-plus fans.
In the 84th minute, Behm scooped up a rebound off a ball in from Hanna Heaton and a tapped touch from Kameron Simmonds to send it through the keeper’s legs and into the back of the net from the top of the six-yard box.
Behm’s goal – the first in Ivy history – was the reward for a team that consistently knocked on the door of the Marauders’ defense throughout the entire match.
Within 36 seconds of the start of the match, the Ivy went striding towards the net. A beautiful ball through the Marauders’ back line from Sarah Flammia to Kam Simmonds, skipped just out of reach but was a harbinger for what would occur in the second half.
The Ivy would maintain control of the ball through most of the first 35 minutes, sending crosses in from both Simmonds and Kanna Matsuhisa but the Marauders’ goalkeeper made crucial stops.
Twice on the counter, the Marauders sent a long ball in but goalkeeper Lauren Hargrove claimed the ball quickly in both instances, shutting down the attack in the 30th and 33rd minutes.
In the 39th minute, a beautiful ball, this time from Simmonds, crossed in from the right side and found the head of Hanna Heaton.
In the 49th minute, Simmonds broke through the back line and got a shot off that ricocheted off the Marauders’ keeper and to the feet of Behm. Behm took a touch but her shot would ultimately escape over the top of the net. Matsuhisa would keep the ball in the box and take another shot on target but an unfortunate deflection from the Marauder defender would send it right into the arms of their keeper.
In the 58th minute, striding up the right side, Kendyl Sarver took a shot on target for the far bottom corner of the Marauders’ goal but their keeper deflected it just barely wide of the net.
Simmonds received the ball at the top of the box in the 68th minute and took a touch or two before sending a strike that ultimately went just over the top bar. She would have another opportunity ding the crossbar and glance just slightly over in the 72nd minute.
In the 81st minute, Simmonds took another shot that deflected off a few players but found Sarver’s feet, but the keeper met her and dove on her first touch.
The Ivy will be back on the City Stadium pitch on Thursday, May 23 when they will take on fellow league debutantes, Charlottesville Blues. The match will kick off at 7 p.m. and feature a fan “Green Out” as the teams kick off “The 64 Derby” for its inaugural match.
