Wave dominate Bay FC in Summer Cup kickoff victory

The Wave scored two second-half goals that proved to be the difference in a 3-1 victory over Bay FC on Tuesday night at Torero Stadium, the San Diego club’s home for its inaugural season. 

The match marked the kickoff to the first NWSL X LIGA MX Femenil Summer Cup tournament during the NWSL regular-season international break. 

San Diego had entered the international break with a (3-6-7, 15 points) record sitting 10th on the league table compared to the Bay’s (6-0-10, 18 points) record. 

The Wave was on a nine-game winless streak and hadn’t seen a victory since May 8. That streak ended as the Wave put on one of their best performances since last season. 

It was a game of firsts for San Diego. Its first win in three months, interim coach Paul Buckle earned his first victory and the first club goals for María Sánchez and Kennedy Wesley as well as Amirah Ali’s first goal of the season. 

What started off intense with both teams eager to break the stalemate, San Diego dominated the first half. The Wave maximized their 41% possessions and created 15 shots, five of which were on target and one resulted in a goal. 

They maintained their high press against the Bay and worked to create chance after chance.

In the 46th minute, rookie centerback Wesley made her debut goal on a header. Wesley leaped up to meet the ball on Sánchez’s corner kick and sent it flying into the net.

“I was in the place I was told to go," Wesley said. "I know the set pieces are about executing and I think we executed it really well. 

"The ball was perfect."

Though it was the team’s first goal since June 18, Wesley didn’t have a big celebration. 

“I’m actually not (used to scoring big goals)," she said. "Maybe that’s why it was a little poor, but at least I know I’m capable so maybe expect something different next time."

The Wave headed into the locker room with high spirits and left with a hunger for more. In the 53rd minute, the score went up by one more as María Sánchez scored her first goal for the Wave since her record-breaking trade from the Houston Dash earlier this year.

The Mexican national team captain shot the ball into the left corner of the goal, providing a cushion to the team’s lead. 

“It’s not the way I pictured to score but it honestly feels good to score," she said. "It feels good to finally get one in the back of the net. It helps a lot. 

"The feeling of having fun and winning a game helps so much." 

The match wasn’t without a fight as Bay FC scored in the 63rd minute with Maddie Moreau. She took advantage of an accidental giveaway and shot it just above Wave keeper Hillary Beall. 

Saturday’s match also had new faces on the Wave’s starting squad. Alex Morgan started as captain for the match after being left off the USWNT 2024 Olympic roster. Jaedyn Shaw and Naomi Girma were absent as they prepared for Paris after being called up to the national team alongside goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan who is representing Canada. 

The cherry on top for San Diego came in the 80th minute by second-half substitute Amirah Ali, who headed a rebounded block shot from Bay FC's keeper.

Saturday’s game was reminiscent of the aggressiveness and success of the Wave’s 2023 campaign. The win was desperately needed and could be a sign that the team is gaining momentum and falling into a new rhythm. 

“We absolutely need that winning feeling," Buckle said. "I needed them to believe tonight.

"I felt that in the first two games, we deserved a lot more with our play and I was worried that the confidence levels would drop but they didn't. We’ve been training really really well and we were brave all night tonight.”

“I felt we deserved the win…I was looking for everything tonight and the players gave me it. We showed really good game intelligence where we sat back slightly more but we still possessed. We fought brave."

San Diego leads the group in the Summer Cup with three points; the Wave are in Group B along with SoCal rivals Angel City FC. who they will play later on.  The tournament features all 14 NWSL teams and the top six teams from the calendar season in the Liga MX Femenil. 

There are five groups of four teams from both leagues. Each group will play at least three matches in the group stages. Only four of the five teams will make it to the semifinals.

Their next match against fellow Group B team Liga MX team Club Ámerica will feature familiar faces for Sánchez, who played for the Mexican side before her time in Houston. The Wave will return to Snapdragon Stadium to host los Tigres on 7 p.m. Friday.