Wave FC returns to San Diego for two home matches this coming week on Wednesday night and Sunday afternoon at Torero Stadium
WAVE FC POST-MATCH RECAP AND QUOTES
Saturday, June 4, 2022 vs. Kansas City Current | Kansas City, Missouri
Photos & Zoom Recording Available HERE
Please credit “USA Today”
Game Highlights HERE
KANSAS CITY, MO. (June 4, 2022) – Leave it to Alex Morgan to provide the heroics once again. Her league-leading eighth goal in the 90th minute allowed San Diego Wave Fútbol Club (4-2-1) to leave Missouri with a point in a 2-2 draw against the Kansas City Current (1-4-2) on Saturday night at Children’s Mercy Park in front of 7,954 fans. San Diego’s 13 points keeps them top of the table in the NWSL as the expansion club returns for two home matches at Torero Stadium this coming week on Wednesday night and Sunday afternoon.
Alex Morgan, who has eight goals in only seven matches, is only one goal shy of tying her NWSL single-season best of nine goals scored when she was a member of Orlando Pride in 2017. Her first goal of the night came on a penalty kick in the 37th minute after Taylor Kornieck’s shot off of a corner kick struck a KC defender’s hand. It was Morgan’s fourth penalty-kick goal of the season and locked the game in a 1-1 tie heading into halftime.
After Kansas City went ahead 2-1 in the 63rd minute on Elyse Bennett’s goal, San Diego was potentially looking at their second-straight loss of the season. However, defender Naomi Girma preserved the one-goal game in the 75th minute with an incredible block that flipped momentum back to Wave FC.
Fifteen minutes later with time dwindling down, Sofia Jakobsson raced into the box with the ball on the right side and lofted a pass over to Morgan, who controlled the ball with her left as the 90th minute struck and rolled it into the goal with her right to knot the match at 2-2.
San Diego returns to Torero Stadium this week for two home matches, with the first being the Pride Night Match on Wednesday night against Portland Thorns FC with $1 from every ticket going to benefit San Diego Pride and the second coming on Sunday afternoon in a match with OL Reign. Tickets for both matches, as well as all home matches at Torero Stadium through the summer, are on sale now and can be purchased through sandiegowavefc.com.
- Tonight’s match marked the 50th career NWSL match for Wave FC midfielder Emily van Egmond. Through Wave’s seven matches this season, van Egmond has started all seven and played every minute of the season.
Wave FC Goals: 37’ Alex Morgan, 90’ Morgan
Kansas City Goals: 11’ Kristen Hamilton, 63’ Elyse Bennett
Misconduct Summary
Wave FC: 45’+3 Taylor Kornieck
Kansas City: None
Wave FC starting lineup
Goalkeeper: Kailen Sheridan
Defenders: Naomi Girma, Kaleigh Riehl, Christen Westphal, Tegan McGrady
Midfielders: Emily van Egmond, Kristen McNabb, Taylor Kornieck
Forwards: Alex Morgan [c], Jodie Taylor, Belle Briede
Subs Used: Kelsey Turnbow, Sofia Jakobsson, Amirah Ali
SD Wave head coach Casey Stoney:
On the team’s performance
“It was probably one of our poorest performances as a collective and that starts with me in terms of the set-up of the team. On Wednesday, we need to react and recover. Obviously it’ll be a tough game Wednesday against Portland. I have to credit the resilience and the character to get a point today when arguably we could’ve been out of the game long before. Real credit to the team with the character shown to take a point from here. I felt like [Kansas City] created problems for us up top tonight with their front two, so it’s something we need to look at, analyze and improve very quickly ahead of Wednesday.
On the impressive shifts rookie Naomi Girma has put in this season
“That’s full credit to Naomi [Girma]. She’s extremely coachable and she came in like that. She’s gotten better and better every week. She’s a very mature player in her approach. Her game understanding is excellent, so that’s credit to her and her hard work, coachability and how much attention she pays to the details. We’re very, very lucky that we have her.”
SD Wave forward Sofia Jakobsson:
On teammate Alex Morgan scoring eight goals in seven matches
“I’ve known her for many years. I know she’s an amazing player, who scores a lot of goals and I’m really happy to have a player of her calibur on our team.”
SD Wave forward Alex Morgan:
On the reason behind her eight goals in seven matches
“The reason I’m getting these goals is because we’re getting shots inside the 18-yard box, we’re forcing hand balls from opponents, Sofia [Jakobsson] is making amazing crosses and the ball just lays up for me. The wave of attack that we’ve had has given us more opportunities inside the box to put these goals away.”
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About San Diego Wave Fútbol Club
San Diego Wave Fútbol Club is the 12th and newest member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The club’s vision is to be a force for good through the game we love and is led by President Jill Ellis, former head coach of the US Women’s National Team (USWNT) and two-time World Cup champion. Together with Head Coach Casey Stoney, the club will bring the highest level of world-class, professional soccer to San Diego. USWNT standouts Alex Morgan and Abby Dahlkemper were two of the first players signed to the club that consists of athletes representing six international soccer federations, including US, Mexico, Canada, Sweden, England and Australia. The team will begin play during its inaugural season at its temporary home, University of San Diego’s Torero Stadium. The new Snapdragon Stadium will serve as Wave FC’s permanent home upon completion of construction, scheduled for September 2022. Learn more about the club and players at www.SanDiegoWaveFC.com.
