Five goals, a fifth game, and five wins. Impressive for a new team in its inaugural season.
With nine changes made from Wednesday’s starting XI, head Coach Ashly Kennedy showed just how impressive the depth and strength is of her roster.
Playing its third game in seven days, the Annapolis Blues continued to sail forward with a season-high five goals scored against Virginia Atlantic.
Eleven minutes in, the Blues generated what would be the first of several attacking threats. Amanda Graziano, who earned the start after a strong midweek performance, received the ball with her back to goal. She swiftly turner her defender, acting as if she was going to take the ball in stride but rather cut towards the middle of the field and drove inside. She played a chipped through ball to Baylee DeSmit, splitting the defense. Just inside the 18-yard box, DeSmit’s first time shot on the half-volley was rocketed towards the back post but met equally by Hope Stacker who pushed the ball away as she dove to the left.
Just three minutes later, DeSmit would strike again, this time with a different result. Annapolis was relentless with its press, never giving Virginia Atlantic a minute’s rest throughout the entire match. This high press, started by Daryn Barnes’ tackle on the Virginia Atlantic left-back, won back possession for the Blues on the right wing. As the future University of Maryland Terp drove towards goal, she played a square pass to Kelsey Smith. Smith, after turning with no pressure, took one touch and rolled the ball along to DeSmit. With her eyes set on goal, DeSmit’s first touch carried her inside the box, leading to a simple finish as she placed the ball into the bottom right corner.
In a classic case of provider turned goal scorer, Smith doubled the lead after an amazing solo effort in the 34th minute. Picking up the ball just inside the attacking half, the University of Maryland senior burst down the left-hand side. As she drove towards goal, Smith went one-on-one with her defender. Once inside the box, she shifted to the left and easily beat the center back with pure pace before lacing home an absolute laser into the top right corner of the goal.
All in all, it was another dominant 45 minutes of play from the Blues who held 69 percent of possession, while recording 10 shots and limiting Virginia Atlantic to just one.
Sabba Haghgoo kicked things off early in the second half. Scoring in the 48th minute, the attack was generated from a long through ball played down the right wing. Starting in her own half, the High Point attacker outpaced all three Virginia Atlantic defenders in what looked to be an almost effortless sprint. Taking a couple touches and driving into the box, she calmly slotted the ball in-between the legs of goalkeeper, putting Annapolis up 3-0. However, she wasn’t done yet.
A Virginia Atlantic slip up led Haghgoo to secure her brace in the 71st minute. Attempting to play a bouncing ball back to her goalkeeper, Reagan Goodwyn couldn’t fully make a full connection and severely under hit her pass. Anticipating the mistake, Haghgoo pounced on the loose ball, took one touch, opened her hips and calmly finessed the ball into the right side-netting.
Finishing off the game, the Blues found a fifth in the 88th minute. Sophie Thibeault received the ball in the middle of the pitch. Eyeing the gap in Virginia Atlantic’s back line, she then found the Ella Benitez in plenty of space. Continuing her run into the box, Thibeault received the ball back on a cutback pass, roughly 14 yards out from goal. Taking it in stride, her first time finish was slotted into the bottom right corner, the final dagger in a strong 5-0 win.
In her first start of the season, Caroline Duffy led a Blues back line that has now posted four consecutive clean sheets.
Following Saturday’s win, the Blues sit confidently atop the Chesapeake Division with 15 points, scoring a total of 13 goals to be 5-0-0 on the season thus far. Hitting the road, Annapolis will look to continue its strong run of form, taking on Richmond Ivy at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11th.
