RICHMOND, Va. — Richmond Ivy (3-2-0, 9 pts) fell to Christos FC (3-2-0, 9 pts) 2-1 Saturday afternoon in a tight contest between Mid-Atlantic Division heavyweights in front of a crowd of 4,151 supporters.
The Ivy struck first early in the match. In the third minute, Kanna Matushisa took off down the left side and almost snuck a shot past the keeper, forcing a last-second save.
In the 15th minute, Christos broke through and sent a shot over goalkeeper Cam Miller’s right shoulder.
The Ivy immediately pushed to answer and forced a corner in the 16th minute that found the heads of Hanna Heaton and Kiley Fitzgerald but ultimately was cleared out by the Christos defense.
In the 22nd minute, a beautiful build started with Ava Pustover who crossed from the right side of the field to the far left through Erin Junkman and Heaton to find Kendyl Sarver on the left wing. Sarver took a shot but the keeper stepped in the way and made the save.
A corner, forced by another Ivy push in the 25th minute found the feet of Maysen Nelson who shot on target. The keeper got in the way of the Ivy attempt again though and pushed the ball out of bounds inviting another corner. The ball in from Matsuhisa found the head of Sarver but was deflected off the goalline by the Christos defense which Fitzgerald then finished a putback shot that evened the scoreline.
Christos would answer quickly as they forced a corner. Miller punched away the initial cross, but the ball fell to Christos and they converted a putback. The Ivy would keep the pressure on though, sending through balls to pepper the Christos penalty area throughout the rest of the half.
The Ivy continued their attack following the restart and earned an opportunity from the corner in the 48th minute. The opportunity created a throw-in for Ava Pustover who found the feet of Lindsey Munyak. Munyak sent a ball that Sarver got a head to but it snuck just over the crossbar.
Sarver would have three more shots on target before the 56th minute but the Christos keeper continued to find herself in the right place at the right time.
In the 65th, Sarver found Vincent at the top of the box who sent a beautiful ball on net but the keeper stretched to make a last-second save.
Throughout the second half, Miller would make save after save to keep the Ivy in the match including one in the 86th where she faced Christos’ Payton Patrick one-on-one.
The Ivy will be on the road for the next two weeks at Charlottesville Blues on Wednesday, June 5 and at Lancaster Inferno on Friday, June 7. They will then return to the City Stadium pitch on Thursday, June 13 to host Patuxent FA. The team will host Women’s Empowerment Night presented by First Tee and a “dress up like your idol” contest.
