DETROIT – Detroit City hosted River Light FC in the club’s first-ever playoff match on the women’s side, battling to a dominant 3-0 victory that saw Le Rouge capitalize on chances River Light did not. The win occurred in the Central Conference Semifinal as Le Rouge will now advance to the Conference Final on Sunday with a chance to extend their season another week.
Le Rouge established themselves immediately, taking the lead in the fifth minute. A long ball picked out from Kate Childers perfectly found Lilley Bosley’s darting run into the box as Bosley fired her first-time effort into the back of the net.
Following the goal, Le Rouge continued to hound the River Light goal, putting constant pressure on their 18-yard box. They searched to extend their lead but struggled to create another decisive moment.
In the 14th minute, River Light found their first sight on goal. A dangerous cross from the right flank found the head of a River Light forward, but the header attempt pulled high and wide from the frame.
Le Rouge quickly responded through Aubree Ciampa, who dispossessed River Light in the midfield before firing a rocket 20 yards out that forced a fingertip save from the River Light goalkeeper.
Over the next ten minutes, River Lights managed to secure a consistent run of possession. They were determined to test the DCFC backline, launching several attempts towards the DCFC goal, but none could trouble DCFC’s Gabby Schriver.
In the 34th minute, a dangerous shot from the left flank would call on Schriver to flick the effort over her crossbar with a finger-tip save to match.
Moments later DCFC quickly responded, Lily Jeakle found herself in behind, getting on the end of a through ball from Bosley, but just ran out of space to direct the flash chance on target.
The final ten minutes of the second half saw River Light maintain most of the possession in DCFC’s half as they searched for an equalizer but could not create a chance.
The last chance of the half would fall to DCFC through Kayla Addison, who got on the end of a Lily Jeakle cross but couldn’t fashion a shot on target before being tackled.
Le Rouge only looked to attack more at the start of the second half. In the 48th, Jeakle dashed down the left flank, showing off an impressive feat to get to the byline and force a save out of River Light goalkeeper.
In the 56th minute, River Light responded through Devin Lynch, who played a clever ball behind for Mackenzie Anthony to run on to and earn River Lights a corner.
Five minutes later, Schriver was called on to make a crucial intervention. Lynch connected with Anthony, who found herself in DCFC’s 18-yard box, ripping a shot toward the bottom corner of Schriver’s back post. But Schriver got down quickly to produce a crucial and miraculous save.
In the 68th minute, Le Rouge found their second. After extended pressure on the River Light 18-yard box, DCFC found themselves with a corner. Emily Pagett stood over the set piece, whipping one at the near post that was met by the head of Lily Jeakle, who fired the headed effort home.
DCFC didn’t stop the pressure in the 73rd minute. Ella Kane found herself in behind on the left wing, picking out a perfect cross for Jeakle, who couldn’t get the venom she was looking for from her headed effort.
And it would be Kane again causing problems. In the 77th, Kane plucked the ball off the River Light backline before driving at the backline and slipping in Pagett, who rifled one into the top left corner from the top of the 18-yard box to make it 3-0 to Le Rouge.
The final action of the match saw River Lights desperately look for a way back in the game as they launched long balls at DCFC’s backline. But Le Rouge remained composed to see out the final minutes of the match and their first USLW playoff victory.
DCFC will return to action against Indy Eleven this Sunday, with a chance to become Champions of the USLW Central Conference, earning a spot in the National Semifinal.
Detroit City Starting XI: Gabby Schriver (GK), Ella Offer (83’), Acadia Murphy, Maia Soulis, Drew Martin (80’), Kate Childers, Lilley Bosley, Emily Pagett (80’), Aubree Ciampa (65’), Kayla Addison (65’), Lily Jeakle (83’)
Goalscorers: Bosley 5’, Jeakle 68’, Pagett 77’
Used Subs: Hannah Crum (65’), Ella Kane (65’), Dani Stephan (80’), Alexandria Tefend (80’), Ally Childers (83’), Amanda Britain (83’)
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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