Wave FC returns to action on Sunday, July 3rd with a home match at Torero Stadium
WAVE FC POST-MATCH RECAP AND QUOTES
Sunday, June 19, 2022 vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC | Harrison, NJ
Photos & Zoom Recording Available HERE
Photo credit: Ashley Intile
Game Highlights HERE
HARRISON, NJ. (June 19, 2022) – Another match with Gotham FC yielded another shutout victory for San Diego Wave Fútbol Club (5-2-3) as they defeated NJ/NY Gotham FC (3-4-0) by a score of 3-0 on Sunday afternoon at Red Bull Arena. Alex Morgan recorded her third multi-goal effort of the season, while also assisting on Makenzy Doniak’s goal for Wave’s third and final score of the match. The victory is Wave FC’s league-best fifth of the season and has them alone in first place with 18 points through 10 matches.
Stingy defense was another key reason for a winning weekend as goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan picked up her fourth clean sheet of the year and has now held her former team scoreless in both 2022 matchups. The Canadian native fended off 13 shots from Gotham FC on way to securing three saves.
The scoring began in the 19th minute when Alex Morgan set a new personal best of 10 goals in a single season to hand Wave FC a 1-0 advantage. Reigning NWSL Player of the Week Taylor Kornieck placed a perfect pass into the penalty area that Morgan took and put between the legs of Gotham keeper Ashlyn Harris.
Morgan wouldn’t rest on the milestone goal as she took a cross from Sofia Jakobsson in the 43rd minute to bag a brace and hand her a league-best 11 goals in only 10 regular season matches. Morgan is now only the 19th player in NWSL history to record double-digit goals in a single campaign and just the fourth to do so since 2019. She’s found added success playing against Gotham FC in 2022 as six of her 11 goals have come against the club.
The impact for Morgan went beyond scoring today as she topped off her brace with a perfect cross to the left foot of Makenzy Doniak, who rocketed one off the top crossbar and in for her first goal in a Wave FC kit. Doniak proved to continue the tradition of “game changers”, impacting the match for Wave FC with her goal. She had a full circle moment as she scored in her last outing at Red Bull Arena as a Chicago Red Star in July 202.
The score capped off an impressive run that has seen Wave outscore Gotham FC 7-0 across their two meetings.
Wave FC heads into the international break this week and will return to action on Sunday, July 3rd with a 2pm PT home match against Washington at Torero Stadium. Tickets for the Service Appreciation Day match, along with all 2022 home matches at Torero, are on sale now and can be purchased through sandiegowavefc.com. Playing during the 4th of July Holiday Weekend, Wave FC will honor military and first responders and $1 from every ticket sold will help injured military and first responders get access through sports through the Operation Rebound program of Challenged Athletes Foundation.
Wave FC Goals: Alex Morgan (19’ assisted by Taylor Kornieck), Alex Morgan (43’ assisted by Sofia Jakobsson), Makenzy Doniak (68’ assisted by Alex Morgan)
Gotham FC Goals: None
Misconduct Summary
Wave FC: Kristen McNabb (31’ Yellow), Jodie Taylor (82’ Yellow), Emily van Egmond (86’ Yellow), Marleen Schimmer (88’ Yellow)
Gotham FC: Kristie Mewis (44’ Yellow)
Wave FC starting lineup
Goalkeeper: Kailen Sheridan
Defenders: Kristen McNabb, Naomi Girma, Kaleigh Riehl, Christen Westphal
Midfielders: Belle Briede, Emily van Egmond, Taylor Kornieck
Forwards: Alex Morgan [c], Kelsey Turnbow, Sofia Jakobsson
Game Changers Used: Jodie Taylor, Makenzy Doniak, Amirah Ali, Sydney Pulver, Marleen Schimmer
SD Wave head coach Casey Stoney:
on where she looks for the club to growing during the international break
“We want to continue creating chances across different areas. We know Alex [Morgan] is a big player for us, but we need to create chances from other areas and that’s something we’ll look at. Also, we’re missing quite a few players with the international break so building different partnerships and looking at the way we play with different players is going to be really important. Looking at how we bring in some training players that can come in and add to our squad during that period.”
on what she’s learned about Alex Morgan
“I’ve learned that she is a very good leader in terms of what she’s done on the pitch. I think she goes about her leadership really quietly off the pitch in terms of the different things she does I don’t always know about, but supports those younger players. I’ve learned that when she’s happy and healthy she’s in a good spot and she performs well. I just want to keep her there. I want to keep her performing, I want to keep her happy, I want to keep her healthy and give her opportunities to perform and play because I know that increases her chances with the National Team. This is all credit to Alex. She’s come in and applied herself, she’s been open minded, she’s really coachable, she gives what she needs to give to the team and encourages everybody else to do the same.”
on the team’s offensive strategy with Alex Morgan leaving for international break
“Listen, that’s a big question and I’m not naive in thinking we’ve had loads of goal scorers because we haven’t. She’s been pivotal. When she goes away someone else has to step up. We’ll prepare the players and make sure we put people in positions to try and create chances for them. You never know, when someone isn’t there it gives an opportunity for someone else to shine and hopefully that’ll happen.”
SD Wave goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan:
on today’s 3-0 shutout win
“It was a really important three points for us. We’ve had a bit of a drought points wise and we know we’ve played the best but haven’t gotten the points. This is huge for us going into the international break and a shutout is even better for our back line. It proves all that hard work they’ve been doing is coming through in the end.”
on defeating her former club
“It’s massive. My family is here. It’s great to be back in my old home. It feels like home and I miss the fans here and the people here, but I have a great thing in San Diego and they’ve supported me and been so incredible since the move. I’m just grateful for the people here and San Diego.”
SD Wave forward Makenzy Doniak:
on scoring her first goal in a Wave FC kit
“It feels really good to score. It feels like all of my hard work and the team’s hard work comes to fruition. I think this was a great game for us as a team to go into the [international] break with a win. On top of the table feels really good, so I’m just happy to contribute to our win today.”
on the team’s early season success
“I think we all would agree that we have a long way to go in the season still, and while we may be on top right now, we have so many games and so many opportunities to keep growing as a team. I think we’ve shown that up to this point so we’re excited to keep pushing ourselves and have different players step up to the plate.”
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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.
