An encouraging start to the second half for the Chattanooga Football Club women was met with a flurry from the Knoxville Lady Force that quickly turned the tables.
Chattanooga FC took a 2-1 lead soon after halftime, but the Lady Force came back with three goals in a four-minute span and won 4-2 Friday night at Finley Stadium. It was the Women’s Premier Soccer League season opener for both teams.
“It was a game of ebbs and flows, and there were some times they pressed us and made it difficult to play,” CFC coach Erin Lycan Ridley said. “We kept a high line and they took advantage. I told them I take full responsibility because we haven’t been able to address some aspects of keeping a high line like being ready to drop back on long balls. We weren’t in a good shape.”
The Lady Force were first on the board with a goal from Jaden Barrett in the sixth minute. Barrett got a cross deep in the box from Amanda Devolle and finished.
CFC was able to settle in after the early goal and equalized on Lizzy Shaughnessy’s strike. She controlled the ball at the top of the box, turned and took a touch before firing away.