SYMMES TOWNSHIP, OHIO (June 11th, 2025) – The Kings Hammer FC Cincinnati ladies continued their hot streak at the top of the Valley Division by dispatching of a tough Indy Eleven side.
The fans in attendance didn’t have to wait long for the opening chance as 15-year-old KHFC debutant Bella McFarland put her shot on target in the 1st minute, but Indy goalkeeper Emily Edwards was able to make the save. The teams would go back and forth throughout the next couple minutes, but struggled to find a real chance.
In the 14th minute, Sam Erbach gave KHFC a chance when she found herself with the ball at her feet, but her shot sailed over the bar keeping things knotted up at nil-nil. Three minutes later, KHFC forward Taylor White took on an opportunity of her own, but Edwards was once again up to the task to keep Indy from going behind.
The Lady Hammers continued to put pressure on the Indy Eleven backline through the use of a high press, and almost found the back of the net through Kylee Simmons in the 22nd minute after they won the ball back up high. Simmons received a cross from Erbach, but couldn’t put it on target.
Simmons would get her redemption though as just a minute later, KHFC won a free kick from just outside the box. Simmons stepped over it and wrapped the ball through the wall and into the back of the net, giving KHFC an early 1-0 lead.
The game would continue with both teams moving the ball up and down the pitch but failing to fashion any real chances for a while. It wouldn’t be until the 38th minute when Indy got a chance to bring themselves level again, but KHFC goalie Maria Galley was equal to Olivia Smith’s shot.
KHFC thought they had doubled their lead shortly after Galley’s save when Taylor White tapped the ball home after a superb cross from midfielder Lauren Flax, but the side judge ruled that White had stepped offside before receiving the pass, meaning things remained 1-0, as they would until the halftime break.
Indy Eleven would find new life at the beginning of the second half, looking the better team in the attacking third. Shots from subs Olivia Joyce and Reese Sochacki would test Galley in goal, but the KHFC keeper denied all that was sent her way.
In the 58th minute, KHFC was sure that they had doubled their lead, again through Taylor White. But again, the side judge ruled that White was once again offside, once again keeping things locked at 1-0.
Olivia Joyce would continue to give Indy hope, crashing one off the bar from a free kick in the 72nd minute. All signs were pointing toward Indy finding the equalizer they so desperately craved, but All-American Nat Bain had something else to say about it.
The KHFC defender rose above the rest to get her head on the end of a Lilly Yordy free kick in the 76th minute. Bain would place the header perfectly, beating Edwards at her far post and doubling the KHFC lead for certain this time.
Whatever belief that Indy still had was quickly taken away from them when Maria Galley made a diving finger-tip save to keep her clean sheet. A few more fruitless chances at both ends would make for an exciting end to the game, but ultimately, KHFC capitalized while Indy couldn’t, taking the game by a final of 2-0
Next up for the KHFC ladies is a home game against Lexington SC on Father’s Day where they’ll look to extend the winning run and keep hold of first in the division!
