
RICHMOND, Va. — Richmond Ivy (5-3-0, 15 pts) earned a resounding 8-0 win over Patuxent FA (0-7-0, 0 pts), Thursday night, in front of 4,501 supporters at City Stadium.
Following two matches on the road, the Ivy’s return home after nearly two weeks was delayed by 10 minutes as the opposing team was late to arrive. The visitors would begin the match with only nine players because transportation issues prevented more players from being available.
The Ivy controlled possession in the attacking end, knocking on the door with several chances before breaking through in the 14th minute.
Kendyl Sarver received the ball and raced up the left wing before shaking her defender with a hesitation dribble. The forward then played a low cross into the penalty area and found Kanna Matsuhisa who one-timed a shot past the keeper and into the bottom corner of the net.
Nine minutes later, Kameron Simmonds netted her first Ivy goal. Ava Pustover forced a Patuxent turnover at midfield and quickly played a piercing-through ball as Simmonds peeled off the backline and ran onto the pass with space. One-on-one with the goalkeeper, Simmonds tucked a perfect curling shot inside of the near post.
Sarver found her first of two goals in the 29th minute. Iisa Elovaara lofted a diagonal cross from the right center back position over the top of the Patuxent backline as Sarver broke free of her marker. The forward carried the ball to the top of the box and confidently slotted a low shot past the charging keeper.
Hanna Heaton scored her first Ivy goal three minutes later with a sizzling individual effort. After receiving a square pass from Matsuhisa, Heaton dribbled past one defender before splitting the two defenders to be one-on-one with the keeper. As the keeper came off her line, Heaton cut back a low shot that slotted inside of the left post.
Matsuhisa completed her brace in the 34th minute after a second link-up with Sarver. As the Ivy overloaded the left wing near midfield, Matsuhisa drifted away from the backline right as Sarver erased the defensive press with a diagonal through ball. Matsuhisa carried the ball into the penalty area and dribbled past the keeper to pass the ball into the net.
The scoreline held at 5-0 through the end of one minute of first-half stoppage, but the Ivy continued the pressure out of the dressing room and found their sixth in the 61st minute. Sarah Flammia played a through ball past the collapsing midfield which found Taylor Berry in space. Berry teed up a low-driven shot from outside the box the had enough pace to beat the diving keeper and crash into the inside netting.
Four minutes later, Berry would add an assist to her goal contributions as she set up Sarver’s brace. Berry dribbled the ball to the backline on the right side before cutting the ball back and chipping a cross into the six-yard box. Sarver rose above her marker and powered a header into the net.
Flammia’s first Ivy goal marked the team’s eighth and final goal of the match. Elovaara found Maci Landel with another defense-eliminating lofted cross. Landel in space carried the ball near the backline before squaring a pass inside that found Flammia before the charging keeper could reach it. Flammia reacted quickly a snuck a quick shot through a tight window.
The Ivy are back on the road for two matches on Saturday, June 15 to face Mid-Atlantic Division leaders Eagle FC and Wednesday, June 19 at Christos FC. Then, the Ivy return home to City Stadium to Eagle FC on Friday, June 21 when the team will host a Summer Solstice Party. Kickoff for the match is set for 7:00 p.m.