Flint, Michigan – The Detroit City FC USL W League team kicked off their 2024 campaign this Saturday at Atwood Stadium, facing Flint City AFC as they secured a 1-0 win on the back of a dominant backline performance.
Head Coach David Dwaihy’s first 11 of the season featured a medley of both familiar faces and newcomers to Detroit City FC.
“I thought the first 15 minutes… was our brightest of the first half. The interconnectedness settled in really quickly, which is a testament to the quality of the players,” Said Dwaihy. “We had three or four players in the starting eleven that had never played with us in the past, so very impressive to start that way.”
Le Rouge established themselves early, keeping a majority of the first ten minutes in Flint’s defensive half thanks to an aggressive high press.
The press bore fruit for DCFC in the 13th minute. Following a dispossession deep in Flint’s half, Adelle Francis slipped in Aubree Ciampa one-on-one with the Flint keeper as she was unable to hit the target from an acute angle.
As the game settled, DCFC began to look the more dangerous of the two sides, creating chance after chance. In the 20th minute, Lily Jeakle nearly set up a goal before almost netting her own just moments later.
In the 32nd minute, Flint had their first clear-cut chance. Following a set-piece, the ball was recycled into DCFC’s box, finding a Flint player whose first-time effort was saved by goalkeeper Gabby Schriver.
Jeakle only continued to pose problems for the Flint backline as DCFC searched for the lead. In the 34th minute, Avery Peters picked out Jeakle with a brilliant trivela pass to put her one on one with the keeper dancing past before her effort was blocked by a Flint defender.
The final action of the first half went in Flint’s favor. A ball floated into DCFC’s back post and was fired off the half-volley, looking ready to ripple the roof of the net had it not been met by Schriver’s gloves.
Flint City began the second half right where they left off. In the 48th minute, Flint found themselves on the top of the 18-yard box, flashing an effort just wide of Schriver’s near post.
Flint continued to create dangerous chances as they began to sustain possession in DCFC’s defensive half. In the 55th minute, Flint found themselves in the DCFC 6-yard box, firing a shot off the turn that rolled just wide of the bottom right corner.
In the 59th minute, Le Rouge took the lead against the tide of play. More individual brilliance from Jeakle on the right flank saw her burst free down the Flint byline before cutting a ball back to Emily Pagett, who needed only one touch to give DCFC a 1-0 lead.
After the match, Coach Dwaihy highlighted the quality and bravery that the 15-year-old displayed despite her young age. “Her pace, she reads the game very well, she’s fearless running at girls twice her size… Her brightness on the ball, to hold it up, to connect with players around her, She’s a special one.” Dwaihy said.
Following the goal, Flint was forced to search for an equalizer as they began to push more numbers into the DCFC half. The bucks created a number of chances, but none were dangerous enough to test Schriver, thanks to solid defending from DCFC’s backline.
“We looked at our group and thought that the back four we started was the strongest defensive unit available and they held strong,” Said Dwaihy.
Dwaihy also had plenty of praise for Maia Soulis and Avery Peters who started their first match together as a center-back pairing. “They looked like they’ve been playing together for years. Very athletic, but also very composed. During stretches of the game where we were under the gun, they were our anchor,”
In the 78th minute, Flint created their most dangerous chance of the half. A cutback from the left byline found its receiver, but Flint’s first-time effort went high and wide of the mark.
Just moments later, Flint went knocking again for an equalizer from an effort from 20 yards out that called on Schriver to guide the shot over her crossbar.
The final ten minutes of the match saw DCFC hunker down as they looked to close out their 1-0 lead. While Flint desperately looked for a way back into the match but was unable to pose a question that DCFC’s backline couldn’t answer.
DCFC will return to action at Keyworth Stadium next Saturday, May 18th, hosting Flint City AFC in what will be Le Rouge’s first home game of the season. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 PM.
DCFC Starting 11: Gabby Schriver (GK), Drew Martin, Avery Peters, Acadia Murphy, Maia Soulis, Aubree Ciampa, Tatiana Mason, Emily Pagett, Lilley Bosley, Adelle Francis, and Lily Jeakle.
DCFC Goalscorers: Pagett 59’
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)
