Following a six-spot jump to eighth place in the USL W power rankings, Annapolis remained undefeated after a 3-3 road draw with Richmon Ivy.
It was a back-and-forth matchup that saw Richmond put an end to the Blues’ streak of four consecutive clean sheets.
Kicking things off early, Annapolis displayed its attacking threat, showing why no team has been able to meet the task. Riley DeMartino tested the keeper in the 14th minute of the game. Darting down the right wing, she unleashed a shot just inside the box, from the right-hand side. Her effort was met by a diving Lauren Hargrove as she protected her front post. As attacking efforts continued, Baylee DeSmit called upon Hargrove in the 18th minute. Gabby Wisbeck played in a ground cross on the ground from the end-line on the left wing. Her pass was attempted to be cleared by the Ivy defense, but fell at the feet of DeSmit, just 12 yards out from goal. Taking her first time chance from the center-left of the box, she forced a strong diving save to Hargrove’s left.
Caroline Duffy kept things solid in her second start for the Blues, was equal to the first task of the match. As the ball was crossed in from left wing in the 22nd minute, it dropped perfectly n between Annapolis’ two center backs and found the head of Taylor Berry. Berry’s header, just, 8 yards out from goal, was going to the bottom left corner, but was saved with one arm by Duffy, who managed to hold the ball and cancel out the danger.
In the 28th minute, Kelsey Smith picked up ball in Annapolis’ attacking half and played DeMartino at the top of the box. DeMartino, running towards the left side of the box, took the pass in stride. With her back facing goal, she turned her defender by taking a touch with her left foot, pirouetting around towards goal, and easily outpacing the center back. She then took two touches before finding the back of the net, beating Hargrove at her near post with an outside of the foot finish.
The lead was doubled in the 34th minute from an audacious solo effort from by DeSmit. Receiving the ball on the left wing, DeSmit beat the first defender with pure pace and strength, taking a touch right past her and muscling her off the ball. Upon entering the box, she cut back inside, splitting two more defenders. To top it off, she rifled home a finish into the top right corner, leaving Hargrove as nothing more than a mere spectator.
However, the Ivy pulled one back in the 41st minute, courtesy of Olivia Woodson. A stray pass from Sophie Thibeault, who was facing her own goal and attempted to find her outside back, ended up at the feet of Woodson, who was immediately ibehind the lines and in on goal. She took two touches and fired home a shot into the bottom right corner, beating Duffy at the back post.
With the match looking like it would be a one-point contest at the half, Thibeault would redeem herself and make amends from her prior mistake, adding a third to the Blues’ tally. DeMartino, who contributed to two of the three goals, sent in a cross from the left wing that dropped just outside of the six-yard box. Thibeault rose and dove between defenders, forcefully heading the ball into the bottom left corner.
Ivy came out of the half with a mission, scoring in the 47th minute. A left footed corner kick was driven in from the left side of the field. Berry, who was isolated In between defenders, didn’t make the same mistake twice and beat Duffy with a strong header that flew in above her head. Shortly after, in the 51st minute, Woodson attempted another shot from the same location as her goal, however, this time it rose above Duffy and bounced off the bar.
The Ivy leveled it in the 69th minute. Sara Flammia picked the ball up 0 yards out from goal. After beating two defenders in the middle of the pitch, she advanced onward towards goal. Taking her chance from roughly 20 yards out, the lofted shot beat Duffy, going above the goalkeeper’s head who was slightly off her line.
With neither side willing to budge, the match ended 3-3, keeping Annapolis unbeaten through all six matches. The Blues will return home for a Father’s Day double header, taking on Virginia Beach United at 7:30 pm. Per usual, the June 15th match will take place at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial stadium.
