The Richmond Ivy earned a 5-0 victory, Thursday night, in the inaugural 64 Derby, defeating the Charlottesville Blues in front of a crowd of 4,021.
The Ivy controlled the first half well but two minutes into the second, they turned on the jets. Kanna Matsuhisa scored her first for the Ivy and ultimately a brace on the night in the 48th and 56th minute. The first, she scored off an assist from Madie Vincent but the second she took herself, cutting inside as she had all night and finding the back of the net with a curling shot inside the far post.
Kiley Fitzgerald, Madie Vincent and Taylor Berry all scored their first goals in club history as well, bringing the Ivy score to 5, all in the second half, on top of a clean sheet maintained by Lauren Hargrove and the late addition of Camryn Miller.
The Ivy pressed the Blues from the first minute and would control the entire half. In the third minute, a corner from Sarah Flammia was cleared but a ball in from center back Alexis Pierce’s feet found Flammia who dribbled towards the goal. She took a shot on target that their keeper got a hand to, but Matsuhisa scooped up the rebound and forced another corner.
The Ivy were able to tally five shots in the first six minutes, keeping the pressure on. Matsuhisa took another strike in the sixth minute but it deflected off a defender out of bounds. The corner from Flammia found the head of center back Maysen Nelson but the deflection fell right to the keeper.
Their pressure continued through until the first half whistle but the deadlock held.
Coming out for the second half, behind Matsuhisa’s two scores, the Ivy continued their offensive pressure and couldn’t be stopped.
From a corner in the 67th minute, the Blues’ keeper popped up the cross, but the clearance fell in the direction of Kiley Fitzgerald who headed the ball into the net.
In the 82nd minute, Matsuhisa broke through the defense with her skill yet again. From there she dished it to Berry who struck from the far right side of the field and sent it past the goalkeeper. The fourth goal of the night was Berry’s first of the season and Matsuhisa’s third contribution of the night but her first assist on the team.
The Ivy weren’t done yet though. Vincent added to her assist of the opener by scoring the match’s closer in the 87th minute. She picked up a half clearance near the top of the box and fired a pacey shot past the keeper and into the net.
The Ivy embark on their first road trip, stopping at the Virginia Marauders on Sunday, May 26 before facing Northern Virginia FC on Wednesday, May 29th. The Ivy then return to the City Stadium pitch on Saturday, June 1 to host Christos FC. The match will kick off at 2 p.m. as a part of a wider RVA Soccer Day. During the match, the team will host a Pride Party.
