By: Kamil Gut
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A spirited second-half effort by the Charlottesville Blues FC women’s team earned the Blues a crucial point in a comeback 1-1 draw against rival Richmond Ivy SC in Saturday’s 64 Derby rematch at Charlottesville High School Stadium.
Blues forward and Charlottesville local Makinna Winterton’s equalizing goal in the 91st minute during second-half stoppage time was the culmination of a sustained team effort to fight for second-chance opportunities and force scoring chances through increased physicality. Winterton’s goal was also the Blues’ first of the season.
“The main message was that we need to be braver, compete harder; basically, we need to want it more than them,” women’s head coach Nick Regan said postmatch. “We fought to the end, and to get that reward means so much.”
Charlottesville went behind early in the 8th minute after a miscommunication on a throw-in led to a turnover and gave Richmond midfielder Sarah Rosenbaum enough time to fire a low-driven shot past goalkeeper Sofia DeCerb.
The Ivy dictated the tempo for the remainder of the first half, controlling 63% of the possession in that span. The visitors wasted little time on the ball and played with a direct style to generate a 16-2 advantage in total shots over the Blues in the opening 45 minutes. Wingers Olivia Woodson and Morgan Oliver troubled the Blues back line often with well-timed runs in behind.
The Blues fought back in the second half, which featured plenty of chances on both ends as the spacing in transition opened up through the home side’s desperation to bring the score level. Statistically, the Blues’ improved second-half performance created a favorable 8-7 shot total over the Ivy during that span and pushed the Blues’ overall possession to 41%.
“We responded well – a learning curve, definitely,” Blues midfielder and Charlottesville local Sinclaire Hart said. “We went into the locker room and said, ‘We’re not doing that ever again.’ (In the) second half, we definitely decided to be more direct and it ended up paying off.”
LINK: Charlottesville Blues v. Richmond Ivy | Postmatch Interviews | 6/7/25
Renewed energy and the right substitutions made the difference for the Blues as the clock ticked closer to full-time.
Goalkeeper Keely Thomas, who made 15 saves in the Blues’ gritty 0-0 draw against the Ivy on May 17 to open the 2025 season at City Stadium in Richmond, Va., replaced DeCerb in the second half and made three important saves to keep the deficit at just one. Defender Karly Harfouche also came on after halftime and single-handedly stopped a pair of Ivy counter-attacks with precise judgement, as well as standing firm on a goal-line clearance in the final minutes.
These defensive heroics set up Charlottesville’s final push forward. A pair of failed clearances by Richmond’s back line allowed Hart to quickly head the ball back toward the 18-yard box, where forward Ellie Cook’s disruptive presence spilled the ball over into Winterton’s path.
Winterton instinctively pounced on the loose ball and put enough pace on her shot to beat Ivy goalkeeper Camryn Miller in the bottom left corner, sending Blues supporters into a frenzy.
“I’m so grateful to be here,” Winterton said about her recent call-up to the Blues. “I went on with a fire to do whatever we could – and that wasn’t my goal, that was a team effort. The team worked so hard. (The energy) was amazing. I’m so grateful to the people that came out. It’s always a battle. They’re good down there (in Richmond) and it’s always a head-to-head battle.”
Although Charlottesville has struggled with results through the first half of the season, the club’s best performances have come against its closest rival.
Saturday’s draw acts as reassurance of the Blues’ ability to keep up with teams of the Ivy’s caliber and could inspire a positive turn of form as a favorable schedule in the second half of the season awaits.
“To get two ties against them this year, it shows massive improvement,” Hart said. “To get our first goal against a quality team, our rival, it’s empowering going forward.”
LINK: MATCH HIGHLIGHTS – Charlottesville Blues v. Richmond Ivy | 6/7/25
The Blues women remain in fourth place in the Chesapeake Division with two points through a 0-3-2 record.
Charlottesville will travel to face Virginia Atlantic FC (5th Chesapeake, 0 points, 0-4-0) for a 5 p.m. matchup on Thursday, June 12 at Powhatan Field in Norfolk, Va., before returning home for a third meeting with Annapolis Blues FC (1st Chesapeake, 15 points, 5-0-0) on June 18.
“Play today like you want the rest of the season to look,” Regan said regarding what he told his players before Saturday’s match. “That second 45 (minutes), if we carry any kind of semblance of that into the games going forward, then it’s going to be a really fun second half of the season.”
Match day tickets can be purchased at the front gate. The cost is $15 for a double header and $10 for a single match. (*Kids 3 and under are free)
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For further information and questions, please contact:
Brian Krow
Co-owner, Charlottesville Blues FC
Email: bkrow@charlottesvillebluesfc.com
Phone: (213) 924-8811
Kamil Gut
Club Reporter/Intern, Charlottesville Blues FC
Email: kamilsgut@gmail.com
Phone: (708) 864-0861
About Charlottesville Blues FC
Charlottesville Blues FC is a pre-professional soccer franchise in the USL League Two and USL W, committed to excellence on and off the field. As the newest expansion team, the Blues aim to make a significant impact in the league, fostering a strong community connection and promoting the growth of soccer in the Charlottesville area.
Media Contact:
Charlottesville Blues FC Communications Team
Email: bkrow@charlottesvillebluesfc.com
Phone: (213) 924-8811
