DETROIT – In their 2024 USL W League home opener, Detroit City faced off against last season’s Great Lakes Division Champions for the second time in as many weeks as they secured their second win of the season against Flint City AFC by a score of 2-1.
Head Coach David Dwaihy elected to make three changes to his previous starting eleven, which secured a 1-0 victory against Flint City AFC. Drew Martin, Adelle Francis, and Lily Jeakle made way for Hannah Crum, Ella Offer, and Kate Childers.
The visiting Flint came out of the gates with an aggressive press that fashioned multiple half chances but none that Flint could capitalize on.
In the 8th minute, Le Rouge found a chance to break ahead. Following a corner from Tatiana Mason the ball found her back on the left flank for a second chance at service as she whipped a cross into the crashing Lilley Bosley who was unable to fashion a chance on target with just one touch.
Just five minutes later Bosley found herself in a dangerous area again getting on the end of another dangerous cross from the left flank. But was denied a goal twice as both her initial headed effort and the second attempt off the rebound were cleared off the line.
Detroit City once again found themselves creating problems in the 20th minute. Aubree Ciampa and Hannah Crum broke on the counter-attack fashioning a chance that was blocked by a last-ditch tackle. But Moments later Ciampa found herself free from 30 yards out firing a shot that left the crossbar ringing.
Ten minutes later DCFC found their breakthrough. A clearance from DCFC found its way to the Flint backline who were too slow to react as Ciampa took the ball down on the second bounce and broke into the 18-yard box, dancing past the Flint keeper and rolling the ball past the goal line to give Le Rouge a 1-0 lead.
In the 43rd Flint created their most dangerous chance of the half. Canada dropped deep into the midfield before cutting onto her right as she played a dangerous cross onto the head of Isabella Gaetino whose effort had just too much on it as it floated over the DCFC crossbar.
The final action of the first half came just moments later for Flint City. Gaetino stood over a free kick from 18 yards out that she wrapped around the DCFC wall as it looked goalbound but just glanced over the Le Rouge crossbar.
In the 57th minute, Flint had their best chance of the match. Gaetino broke in behind following a brilliant chipped-through ball from the Flint backline but Schriver stayed big in a one-on-one to deny Flint of a clear chance at an equalizer.
Just minutes later DCFC grabbed their second of the match. Pagett broke down the left flank driving into the 18-yard box beating her marker with some brilliant feet before squaring the ball for Ciampa to grab her second of the match as DCFC took a commanding lead and Pagett grabbed her second goal contribution in as many games.
After the match, Coach Dwaihy had heaps of praise for the 17-year-old Ciampa, the second DCFC youngster to earn Women of The Match Honors following 15-year-old Lily Jeakle’s performance last weekend.
“They’re not daunted by the environment, they’re so young and obviously talented and experienced but I still think this would be an intimidating place to play, and yet they play with so much confidence,” Said Dwaihy.
In the 61st minute, Schriver was called on again to make a crucial save. Gaetino broke down the left flank finding Landis Canada in the 18-yard box who, from 10 yards out, fired a shot at the bottom right corner which was miraculously met by Schriver with an instinctual save.
Coach Dwaihy noted the quality performance of Schirver who produced multiple one-on-one saves. “She absolutely kept us in the game and kept us 2-0 long enough for us to see the game through… I thought she was absolutely massive for us tonight” Said Dwaihy.
Flint, in need of a goal, began to push more and more players forward but with little to no avail as they continuously flooded DCFC’s 18-yard box but were unable to truly challenge Schriver’s goal.
Until the 82nd minute, when Schriver was called on to remain big to prevent another one-on-one chance for Flint, this time with an extended leg to deny Delaney Caldwell a clear-cut opportunity.
Minutes later Flint found a consolation goal in the 85th minute, Samantha Woods of Flint found herself on the top of the 18-yard box with the ball bobbling out to her as she smashed a volleyed effort into the back of the net to bring Flint within one with just minutes to go.
The final moments of the game saw Flint desperately look for an equalizer but Le Rouge remained resilient thanks to yet another brilliant one-on-one save from Schriver to close out their second win of the season against Flint City AFC.
Coach Dwaihy noted his team’s strong start to this season as DCFC took six points off the reigning champions, describing it as a “dream start.”
“It’s incredible, but I think more importantly than the results I think we played well. I thought just in terms of the quality of the performance, the consistency, and the togetherness of the group I think we did so well,” Said Dwaihy.
DCFC Starting XI: Gabrielle Schriver, Ella Offer, Avery Peters, Acadia Murphy, Maia Soulis, Kate Childers (85’), Tatiana Mason (75’), Emily Pagett (64’), Lilley Bosley (85’), Hannah Crum (64’), Aubree Ciampa (64’)
DCFC Substitutes: Drew Martin (64’), Allyson Childers (85’), Danielle Stephan (64’), Kayla Addison (75’), Alexandria Tefend (85’), Sarah Troccoli (64’), Deighton Wamer
For more information about Detroit City FC, visit detcityfc.com and follow @DetroitCityFC on X and Facebook and @detroitcityfootballclub on Instagram.
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Primary Media Contact: Jarrett Maki (Sports Information Director, jarrett.maki@detcityfc.com)
