Match Preview: San Diego Wave FC at Washington Spirit

SAN DIEGO, Calif.  –  San Diego Wave Fútbol Club (9-5-4, W-L-D) plays one of its final away matches of the regular season this Saturday, September 10, at 10:00 a.m. PT, against Washington Spirit (1-6-10), with the match airing on CBS. The team looks to grab another three points at Audi Field in their second meeting against the Washington side this season.

“Washington Spirit are a tough opposition; I don’t think the table is telling the truth when it comes to Washington’s talent on their roster. They’re a good side and play some really good soccer. It is going to be a really difficult test, and we know away trips are very difficult, but we know what we are capable of on the road, so hopefully, it’ll be a great game for the fans, another good performance from us, and hopefully another opportunity to pick up points.”

Casey Stoney, San Diego Wave FC Head Coach

The last meeting between the Wave FC and Washington Spirit took place on July 3, and ended in a 2-1 victory for San Diego. In the 36th minute, Makenzy Doniak took Christen Westphal’s pass from the right edge of the penalty area and fired a shot into the back of the net for a 1-0 advantage. Later in first-half stoppage time, rookie Belle Briede extended the lead with her first career NWSL regular-season goal. Marleen Schimmer was key to the set-up, dribbling toward the Spirit’s defense and sending Briede a through ball that led to a one-touch shot into the back corner, handing Wave a 2-0 lead heading into halftime.  Washington’s Jordan Baggett headed in a cross during the final minute of stoppage time, ending the match at 2-1 in favor of San Diego.

Notably, this matchup took place during an international window with both squads missing their international players due to the Concacaf W Championship (11 players) and the EURO (one player).

The last time a San Diego women’s pro team played in Washington, DC was July 2003 in the final season of the WUSA. The Washington Freedom won 2-0 off goals from Abby Wambach & Mia Hamm. Rookie Aly Wagner played the full 90 for the San Diego Spirit, and Lori Lindsey came off the bench for the Freedom.

After this Saturday’s matchup, San Diego Wave FC returns home to the new state-of-the-art Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 17, as they take on Angel City FC. After surpassing the NWSL attendance record last month, San Diego Wave FC has now successfully sold every seat in Snapdragon Stadium that was made available to the club based on the optimal set-up to view soccer.

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 played the first 11 home games in the 2022 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 starting in September 2022. Learn more about the club and players at www.SanDiegoWaveFC.com.

About Snapdragon Stadium

Snapdragon Stadium is San Diego’s newest expertly-designed sports venue with optimized viewing and new VIP experiences. Located on the campus of San Diego State University at Mission Valley, Snapdragon will feature a unique array of food and beverages, including coastal-inspired cuisine and game day favorites. When not in use for sporting events, Snapdragon will serve as a year-round entertainment destination and community hub for San Diego with concerts, festivals and more.