SAN DIEGO (Aug. 21, 2026) – San Diego Wave FC (11-7-3, 36 points) earned a 4-2 win against Utah Royals FC (11-7-3, 36 points) on Friday night at Snapdragon Stadium.

The Wave struck first in the fourth minute when Melanie Barcenas picked out Trinity Byars with a curling ball in behind Utah’s back line. Byars raced onto the pass and calmly finished past the onrushing goalkeeper for the early lead.

Utah equalized in the 29th minute through Mina Tanaka, who received a pass from Cece Delzer on the edge of the box and curled a first-time effort into the top-left corner.

San Diego responded in the 40th minute. Byars beat her defender, rounded the goalkeeper, and cut the ball back for Barcenas, who finished first time to restore the lead and score in back-to-back games at Snapdragon Stadium. The Wave took a 2-1 advantage into halftime.

Utah answered two minutes into the second half when Cloé Lacasse slipped a ball across the six-yard box for Tanaka, who finished into the top-right corner for her second goal of the night.

The Wave went back in front in the 64th minute when Jordan Fusco played Byars through on goal. Byars outpaced her defender and calmly finished for her eighth goal of the season and second career brace, while Fusco recorded her first career assist.

San Diego added a fourth six minutes later as Byars beat her defender on the right wing and sent a ball across the box for Ludmila, who finished first time to seal the 4-2 win.

Next on the schedule: The Wave continue its home stretch at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Aug. 28 when it hosts Racing Louisville FC. The match is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. PT with tickets available for purchase here. The game will be broadcast live on NWSL+.

Social: Twitter – @sandiegowavefc | Instagram – @sandiegowavefc | Facebook

Notes:

  • Trinity Byars scored her seventh and eighth goals of the season, the most by any San Diego player in 2026.
  • Melanie Barcenas recorded her fifth goal and first assist of the season, marking the first multi-goal contribution match of her career.
  • Ludmila scored her second goal of the season.
  • Byars recorded the first two assists of her career.
  • Jordan Fusco recorded her first career assist.
  • San Diego’s four goals were the club’s most in a single match this season.
  • Byars moved into second place in club history for most goals scored in a single season.
  • Byars joined Alex Morgan as the second player in Wave FC history to record multiple multi-goal games and became the second to record four goal contributions in a single match. Morgan scored four goals against Gotham FC on May 7, 2022.
  • Byars has recorded 10 goal contributions this season, becoming the third player in club history to reach double digits in a single season, joining Morgan (17 in 2022, 12 in 2023) and Delphine Cascarino (11 in 2025).
  • Barcenas’ six goal contributions this season are the most by any teenager in the NWSL in 2026.
  • Midfielder Laila Harbert earned her first start for San Diego Wave FC.

Box Score: 
San Diego Wave FC 4:2 Utah Royals FC

Scoring Summary:  
SD – Byars (7) (Barcenas, 1) 4’
UTA – Tanaka (7) (Delzer, 3) 29’
SD – Barcenas (5) (Byars, 1) 39’
UTA – Tanaka (8) (Lacasse, 9) 47’
SD – Byars (8) (Fusco, 1) 63’
SD – Ludmila (2) (Byars, 2) 70’

Misconduct Summary:
None

San Diego Wave FC: GK Sandra Paños, D Perle Morroni (Brooklyn Courtnall 72’), D Kristen McNabb, D Kennedy Wesley ©, D Mimi Van Zanten, M Laila Harbert (Jordan Fusco 62’), M Laurina Fazer, M Lia Godfrey, F Melanie Barcenas (Gabi Portilho 88’), F Ludmila, F Trinity Byars (Adriana Leon 72’)

Unused Substitutes: GK Luisa Agudelo, D Nya Harrison, M Tatum Wynalda

Utah Royals FC: GK Mandy McGlynn, D Nuria Rábano, D Kaleigh Riehl (Tatum Milazzo 74’), D Kate Del Fava, D Miyabi Moriya, M Narumi Miura, M Mina Tanaka, M Ana Tejada (Madison Hammond 74’), M Cece Delzer, F Cloé Lacasse (Alexa Spaanstra 90+1’), F Paige Cronin ©

Unused Substitutes: GK Mia Justus, D Kameron Simmonds, M Pierre-Louis, M Courtney Brown, F Brecken Mozingo, F Kiana Palacios

Stats Summary: SD / UTA
Shots: 13 / 12
Shots on Target: 5 / 2
Saves: 0 / 1
Corners: 2 / 5
Fouls: 19 / 10
Offsides: 1 / 2
Possession: 46% / 54%

Attendance: 11,210