Local 15-year-old talent Melanie Barcenas makes professional debut for Wave

San Diego Wave FC (3-2-0, 9 points) fell 3-1 to Orlando Pride (1-4-0, 3 points) at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday night.

Forward Jaedyn Shaw opened up tonight’s scoring in the 12th minute with a right-footed shot from an impressive angle in front of the goal. Midfielder Makenzy Doniak sent the assist in from outside the box to Shaw on the near post, who slotted it into the bottom corner.

Orlando leveled the match in the 26th minute off a corner kick from Adriana Leal da Silva, connecting to Mikayla Cluff. In the 43rd minute, Haley McCutcheon doubled Orlando’s scoreline with a header inside the box to the bottom left corner. Messiah Bright added the third goal for the visiting team in the 69th minute.

Second half substitute Melanie Barcenas added an offensive spark for the home side as the Wave battled to find a breakthrough opportunity. The 15-year-old local forward made her professional debut after entering the match in the 71st minute. In the 82nd minute, a VAR call erased a second half San Diego goal, helping Orlando secure the three points.

Next on the schedule: The Wave will head on the road to start a three-game road trip, kicking off against the Washington Spirit on Saturday, May 6, at Audi Field. Beginning at 10:00 a.m. PT, the match will be available to watch live on CBS.

Notes:

  • 15-year-old San Diego Wave FC forward, Melanie Barcenas, made her professional debut tonight versus the Orlando Pride, entering the match in the 71st minute. Announced on March 21, 2023, Barcenas was the first youth local player to be signed in the NWSL and the youngest to sign in league history at 15 years and 138 days (now 15 years and 177 days old). 
  • Forward Jaedyn Shaw earned her third goal of the season tonight and sixth of her professional career. The 18-year-old is now tied for the team lead along with forward Alex Morgan. Shaw is also tied for second in the NWSL for regular-season goals scored by teenagers. Mallory Swanson ranks first with 8 goals, and Shaw has 18 months left as a teenager.
  • Midfielder Makenzy Doniak earned her first assist of the season. 
  • Forward Sofia Jakobsson earned her first start of the season. The Swedish international came on as a second half substitute in the Wave’s last match, a 2-0 win over Angel City FC, and scored her first-ever NWSL game winning goal. 
  • Defender Naomi Girma earned her 25th straight start for the Wave since being drafted #1 overall in the 2022 NWSL Draft. The 2022 NWSL Rookie and Defender of the Year wore the captain’s armband for the second time in her professional career in tonight’s match.
  • Goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan and defender Kristen McNabb were joined by friends and family and honored prior to the match for reaching 100 NWSL appearances. Sheridan reached the feat on April 1, while McNabb earned it last weekend on April 19. 

Box Score:
San Diego Wave FC 1:3 Orlando Pride

Scoring Summary:
SD – Shaw (3) 12’ (Doniak 1)
ORL – Cluff (1) 26’ (Leal da Silva 1)
ORL – McCutcheon (1) 43’ (Villacorta 1)
ORL – Leal da Silva (1) 69’ (Tymrak 1)

Misconduct Summary:
ORL – Montefusco (Caution) 27’
SD – Colaprico (Caution) 52’

San Diego Wave FC: GK Sheridan, D Westphal, D McNabb, D Girma ©, D Riehl, M Colaprico, M Shaw, M Briede (Barcenas 71’), M Hill (Ali 62’), F Doniak, F Jakobsson (Turnbow 80’)

Subs not used: GK Brzykcy, D Pogarch, D Gyau, D Enge, D Shorts, F Morgan

Orlando Pride: GK Moorhouse, D McCutcheon, D Montefusco, D Madril, D Strom, M Villacorta, M Cluff (Watt 73’), M Marta ©, F Tymrak (Listro 79’), F Bright, F Adriana

Subs not used: GK Nelson, D Cosme, F Yates, D Hansen, D Martinez, F Allen, M Reiss 

Attendance: 16,225

Stats Summary: SD / ORL
Shots: 17 / 14
Shots on Target: 4 / 6
Saves: 3 / 3
Corners: 7 / 4
Fouls: 7 / 9
Offsides: 1 / 0
Possession: 52.5% / 47.5%