
RICHMOND, Va. — Richmond Ivy (6-4-1, 19 pts) handed Mid-Atlantic Division-leading Eagle FC (8-1-1), their first loss of the season, earning a 2-0 victory at City Stadium in the penultimate match of the USL W League regular season.
Following a close 2-0 loss on the road at Eagle FC just a week ago, the Ivy were buoyed by the raucous home crowd of 4,352.
The Ivy struck first in the fifth minute after earning a corner kick. Kanna Matsuhisa played an out-swinging ball that dropped into the middle of the box. Taylor Berry was able to get around her marker and play a pass forward that found Kiley Fitzgerald unmarked. The midfielder quickly turned on the ball and fired a shot on target that deflected off of a body before hitting the back of the net.
Looking for a second goal in the 14th minute, Matsuhisa nutmegged her defensive marker before driving the ball to the endline and sending a ball into the box that forced a clearance. A minute later, she would have the ball again in a dangerous area, this time opting for a shot that glanced just over the top of the crossbar.
Kameron Simmonds and Taylor Berry combined in the 22nd minute to deliver the second and final goal of the night.
Simmonds, flashing her dribbling skills, left a defender falling in the wrong direction as she carried the ball up the left wing. She quickly powered a lateral cross into the box as Berry positioned herself to redirect the cross into the back of the net.
The 42nd minute saw Simmonds in position to add a goal to her points tally. She cut inside to the top of the box and hit a shot that took a slight deflection and forced a save from the Eagle keeper.
On the other end of the break, Ivy continued to press Eagle. In the 52nd minute, Madie Vincent, a halftime substitute, got on the end of a loose ball at the top of the box, taking a shot that forced a defensive deflection and went just wide of the goal mouth.
Vincent and Matsuhisa continued to press through the ensuing 10 minutes of play.
In the 57th minute, the pair would force a turnover. Berry then almost earned another headed goal off the cross from a pressing Vincent but her flick forced another defensive deflection.
Lauren Hargrove, who earned a commanding clean sheet, came out of her penalty area in the 62nd minute to clear a ball in from Eagle FC with their attacker running in one-on-one. Eagle would regain possession after the clearance and hit a lofted shot from long-range on target. As the ball drifted on frame, Hargrove pedaled backward and jumped to pop the ball over the crossbar before it could sneak in.
The Ivy and Eagle would create end-to-end chances in the 83rd minute. Matsuhisa drove up the left side, sending a beautiful through ball to Vincent who drove to the end line and tried to sneak a ball in near post but the Eagle keeper dove on it to keep the ball out. On the counter, Eagle sent a ball over the top forcing a one-on-one with defenders trailing but Hargrove stood tall yet again and made the save.
Five minutes later, Berry nearly made it three from the top of the box. She ripped a shot that appeared on target before taking a slight deflection which rattled off the crossbar and out for an Ivy corner.
With only five minutes of stoppage time left, Eagle would try to push again for daylight but another Hargrove save would leave them unsuccessful. The visitors again pumped in a cross from the right wing but Kenley Campbell got in the way of the subsequent shot, allowing Hargrove to take the ball out of play.
Campbell would get stuck in again in the penalty area, clearing an oncoming attack from Eagle in the third minute of second-half stoppage time. Roughly 90 more seconds would tick down before the head official blew the final whistle.
The Ivy remains at City Stadium for the final match of the regular season as they host the newly-minted division leaders, Lancaster Inferno FC on Friday, June 28. The Ivy will host a Fan Appreciation Night with kickoff for the match set for 7:00 p.m. Get your tickets now at richmondivy.com/tickets.