Chattanooga FC Women were beaten 4-1 by Nashville Rhythm in the team's first game of the WPSL season in the Southeast Conference.
The matchup started off cagey between the two sides, with chances in the first half even to start, but it was Nashville who would strike first, with a world-class curled finish from outside the box from forward Angeline Kieh. The Sky Blues had chances, but were unable to put them away.
Eight minutes into the second half, CFC responded with a goal off a set piece.
Billie Jean Davies played a ball from the endline, and her center-back partner Angela Gatto finished on the back post.
The scoreline lasted only two minutes, however, with Kieh finding herself on a breakaway and dribbling past goalkeeper Lilly Kate Varino for the 2-1 lead.
CFC pushed for the draw, but the Rhythm kicked into another gear late in the second half.
In the 84th minute, Nashville countered off a CFC free-kick, and Kieh combined with Ruby Teixeira to extend the lead. Two minutes later, Hannah Morton lasered a effort into the top right corner to cap off a 4-1 scoreline.
Chattanooga FC Women will look to brush off the loss when it hosts Knoxville 865 Alliance on Sunday June 2nd at 6:00 p.m. ET back at Finley Stadium.
"It was frustrating," said Head Coach Tom Halsall. "Our response after half-time was excellent. I asked them for a goal in the first five minutes and they delivered, but then we had a mental slip at the other end. We need to be more clinical in the final third. One big thing we can take away is that my team are not quitters. They're not going to fall down and will fight to the bitter end."
"We had areas that, if we know one another better, we can improve really quickly," said captain Anna Land. "I'm excited to see where we go from here.
"Angela [Gatto] was practicing those yesterday over and over again [finishing off free-kicks], so it's really encouraging to see how practice really does make perfect. She will throw her body in front of the ball every time."
"I want to thank the fans. You were incredible. I love that even though this may not be the result we wanted, people stayed. They showed that they are true CFC and they love us, so I really appreciated them."