SAN DIEGO (May 15, 2024) – San Diego Wave FC (3-3-2, 11 points) travel to face Bay FC (2-7-0, 9 points) at PayPal Park on Friday, May 17. The match will be streamed nationally on NWSL+ and broadcasted locally on FOX 5 with kickoff slated for 7:30 p.m. PT.
San Diego defeated Bay FC 2-1 on April 27 to earn the first win in the first-ever matchup of the two clubs. Midfielder Makenzy Doniak opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a perfectly placed shot at the edge of the box. Bay FC equalized just after halftime when Bay’s header bounced off the crossbar and fell directly to the feet of forward Asisat Oshoala who scored the rebound. In the 78th minute, forward Elyse Bennett hit a flawless pass to Jaedyn Shaw, who finished a close-range shot to secure the victory at home.
Last Time Out
In San Diego’s last match, the Wave drew 1-1 with NJ/NY Gotham FC on May 12 at Snapdragon Stadium. Gotham FC opened the scoring in the 25th minute when forward Jenna Nighswonger sent a pass to forward Ella Stevens who hit a volley into the back of the net. However, in the 64th minute, midfielder Savannah McCaslill’s corner kick found the head of defender Hanna Lundkvist. The Sweden international soared over her defenders and headed the ball to score her first NWSL goal and level the match. With the goal, San Diego has scored in all 16 of their regular-season home matches since the beginning of last season, the only team in the NWSL to do so.
Bay FC is coming off a 1-0 loss to the Orlando Pride on Saturday, May 11. Orlando earned their game-winner in the 32nd minute when forward Barbra Banda drew a foul inside the box and forward Adriana stepped up to score the penalty kick.
Players to Watch
San Diego’s Danny Colaprico has been a mainstay in the midfield this season, starting in seven of the Wave’s eight matches while logging 598 minutes. The nine-year league veteran has made four shots and delivered 12 long balls into the final third, instilling an attacking presence for the Wave. Colaprico also holds a 78% passing success rate, adding a level of consistency and accuracy throughout the midfield.
Bay FC enters the matchup with a total of eight different goal scorers on their team so far this season, five of which have each scored two goals and three have each scored one goal. Forward Theresa Boade scored the most recent Bay FC goal on May 5 against the Chicago Red Stars when a pass from goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher rebounded off the shoulder of Boade and crossed the line in just the eighth minute of the match.
How to Watch
Friday’s match will be played at PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif. The match will be streamed nationally on NWSL+ and broadcast live on FOX 5 at 7:30 p.m. PT.
