San Diego Wave FC (9-6-3, 30 points) defeated the Houston Dash (4-6-8, 20 points) 1-0  on Sunday night with a goal by 18-year-old midfielder Jaedyn Shaw in front of nearly 25,000 fans at Snapdragon Stadium. With the win San Diego Wave into first place in the NWSL standings.

In the 33rd minute, Houston’s Michelle Alozie was given a red card for denying a goal-scoring opportunity when she fouled Wave forward Rachel Hill near the halfway line.

Following a scoreless first half, the Wave goal finally came in the 57th minute. Defender Christen Westphal sent a through ball from the backline to Shaw who fired it from the right side of the six-yard box and into the bottom left corner for her eighth goal of the regular season.

San Diego continued to apply pressure to Houston throughout the rest of the match recording a total of 33 shots and 12 on target to Houston’s zero shots on goal before the final whistle blew for a score of 1-0.

Next on the schedule: Following an off weekend, San Diego Wave FC will host the KC Current at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 16, for the club’s Latino Heritage Night at 7:00 p.m. PT. The match will be streamed on Paramount+. Tickets to the match are available here.

Notes:

  • The win moves San Diego Wave FC into first place in the standings with 30 points. 
  • Tonight’s goal for Jaedyn Shaw marks her 8th career regular-season goal, tying the NWSL record for goals by a teenager, held by Mallory (Pugh) Swanson, who scored 8 for the Washington Spirit before she turned 20. 
  • Tonight’s win increases the Wave’s winning streak to the three games. The last time San Diego recorded a three game win streak was May 2022.
  • The Wave now hold a 4-0-0 record against the Dash all-time.
  • Recently-signed Irish international forward Kyra Carusa made her first start for the Wave tonight since signing with the team in August 2023. Last match, Carusa scored her first NWSL goal with a game-winning strike against Orlando in the team’s 2-1 victory over the Pride.
  • Wave forward Sofia Jakobsson returned to play in her first NWSL match since earning a bronze medal with Sweden at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, entering in the 60th minute. 
  • Wave midfielder Emily van Egmond made her first appearance and first start since leaving for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, where she helped Australia make its furthest run in team history, coming in fourth place.
  • Midfielder Taylor Kornieck returned to the pitch today after sustaining an injury in the Wave’s Challenge Cup match on July 28 in Seattle. Kornieck entered the match tonight in the 71st minute for midfielder Jaedyn Shaw.

Box Score:
San Diego Wave FC 1:0 Houston Dash

Scoring Summary:
SD – Shaw (8) (Westphal 3) 57’

Misconduct Summary:
HOU – Alozie (Red) 32’
HOU – Schmidt (Caution) 49’
SD – Jakobsson (Caution) 83’

San Diego Wave FC: GK Sheridan, D Pogarch, D Riehl, D Girma, D Westphal, M Hill (Jakobsson 60’), M Colaprico (Dougherty Howard 60’), M van Egmond (Enge 84’), M Shaw (Kornieck 71’), M Morgan ©, F Carusa (Doniak 84’)

Subs not used: GK Yáñez, D Cortez, F Barcenas, F Ali

Houston Dash: GK Campbell, D Jacobs, D Lind, D Dydasco (Tucker 89’), M Sanchez (Alves 82’), M Schmidt ©, M Viggiano, M Alzoie, M Anderson (Peterson 38’), F Prince (Gareis HT), F Ordóñez (Desiano 82’)

Subs not used: GK Alvarado, M Puntigam, D Prisock, M Hirst

Stats Summary: SD/HOU
Shots: 33 / 6
Shots on Target: 12 / 0
Saves: 0 / 9
Corners: 11 / 2
Fouls: 7 / 7
Offsides: 4 / 0
Possession: 61% / 39%