Making the three-hour trip into Virginia, the Annapolis Blues Women doubled its early-season success, bringing home a 3-0 win against the Charlottesville Blues (CBFC) to sit atop the Eastern Conference Chesapeake Division.
Annapolis began the match on the front foot, releasing an unrelenting press on CBFC that would last the entire night. Throughout the first 20 minutes, Charlottesville attempted to press equally, resulting in neither side being able to put its attacking stamp on the match quite yet. Play was halted after 23 minutes for a hydration break.
Coming out of the break, Annapolis stepped into another gear. The first dangerous opportunity of the half came in the 30th minute. A poor giveaway by the Charlottesville center back saw Kelsey Smith make a crucial interception, leaving her one-on-one with CBFC keeper Keely Thomas. Smith attempted to round Thomas but was pushed wide. She kept the play alive by crossing it into the box, finding the feet of Baylee Desmit. The ball then made its way through the top of the box and out wide to Sabba Haghgoo, who’s shot sailed off the crossbar and went out for a corner.
Just four minutes later, the deadlock was broken. The ever-threatening Haghgoo received a ball on the right flank with her back to defender. Standing strong, she played the ball into middle of field, finding the feet of Sarah Martin. Martin, full of confidence, fired a shot from 30 yards out that bounced in front of the diving Thomas, over her hands, and into the back of the net.
Amanda Graziano doubled the lead shortly after, in the most stunning of ways. Haghgoo received the ball on the right wing and quickly distributed to Graziano in the center of the pitch. Making her first start of the season, she drove towards the goal with pure ambition. The 2022 All-Patriot League Second Team selection cut back, beat both defenders, and unleashed a shot from roughly 25 yards out that nestled perfectly into the top right corner.
Annapolis would enter the half up 2-0, not allowing a single shot on target from its opponent through the first 45.
Delaney DeMartino, a second half substitute, started the attack that would lead to a third goal after stripping her attacker of the ball. The Potomac, MD native made a quick pass to Haghgoo in the middle of the field, who drove into the attacking half. She then found Baylee DeSmit who, in similar fashion to Graziano’s goal, let go of a wonder-shot that beat Thomas, curling into the top right corner of the net.
With another hydration break given around the 72nd minute mark, the remainder of the second half saw Annapolis maintain the lion’s share of possession, not allowing any attacking chances from CBFC. Head Coach Ashly Kennedy made several changes throughout the half, allowing players to gain valuable minutes and garner more USL W League experience.
The women in light blue remained composed throughout all 90 minutes of play, coming away with a strong 3-0 win on the road. Having now tallied six goals through three games, the Blues have shared the goal-scoring accolades, seeing six different goal scorers thus far. Haghgoo leads the team with four points, coming from one goal and three assists.
Looking to set attendance records in both the USL W and USL 2 leagues, the women and men return to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on May 31st. The men will open play, taking on Christos FC at 5 p.m., followed by the women at 7:30 p.m. who will face off against Richmond Ivy.
