Wave FC’s Strong Attack Thwarted by Stellar Goalkeeping in Scoreless Draw
The Wave dominate possession and chances but fall short in a 0-0 game against the Washington Spirit.
It was a night of missed opportunities for the San Diego Wave.
Heading into the match with a strong 7-3-2 record, fresh off a thrilling 3-2 win over the Houston Dash, the Wave looked to keep their momentum rolling headed into the long July break.
But things didn’t go as planned.
From the opening whistle, San Diego came out aggressive and hungry, pushing into Spirit territory with confidence and intent. They generated plenty of chances early on, controlling possession and setting the tempo. But despite their intensity and attacking energy, they couldn’t capitalize where it mattered most: the scoreboard.
The Wave dominated nearly every statistical category. They outshot the Washington Spirit 16 to 7 and earned a staggering 14 corner kicks compared to Washington’s 4. They moved the ball well, kept the Spirit on the back foot, and applied relentless pressure throughout the match. Despite their on-paper dominance, the final result was a frustrating 0-0 draw. Proof that sometimes numbers don’t tell the whole story.
There were several close calls that could have changed the game’s narrative. In the ninth minute, forward Adriana Leon dazzled the crowd when she went between her defender’s legs before sending a shot just wide of the post. It was a moment of brilliance that lacked a finishing touch, a constant theme for the Wave all night.
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While San Diego certainly had their fair share of missed opportunities, chalking up the lack of goals to poor execution alone wouldn’t paint the full picture. The Spirit, and particularly goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury, rose to the occasion and put on an impressive defensive display. Kingsbury delivered a masterclass in shot-stopping, notching her 41st career clean sheet as she made several highlight-reel saves to keep the Wave at bay. One of the most dramatic came in the 62nd minute when 17-year-old rookie Kimmi Ascanio unleashed a powerful strike destined for the top corner, only for Kingsbury to deny it with a spectacular diving stop. It seemed like there was nothing the Wave could do to get past Washington’s veteran goalie.
Kingsbury’s outstanding performance between the posts drew praise from Wave players. “I have to tip my cap to Audrey,” said Wave midfielder Savannah McCaskill. “I think she made some incredible saves. She was big whenever she needed to be.”
While Kingsbury’s effort was the standout of the match, Wave goalkeeper and team captain Kailen Sheridan was also rock-solid in the net, notching her 40th career shutout.
Despite the disappointing outcome, Wave head coach Jonas Eidevall remained composed and optimistic. He seemed less focused on the final score and more focused on the team’s overall performance and what it means for the future. “From a result perspective, we’re not happy,” he said. “But football is also performance, and sometimes performance and results don’t align in the short term—but long term, they very often do.”
The Wave now head into the international break sitting third in the standings of the National Women’s Soccer League, with a 7-3-3 record and 24 points, just behind the Orlando Pride (25 points) and the league-leading Kansas City Current (33 points). They will return to action on August 2 after the International break with a crucial road match against the North Carolina Courage, hoping to turn performance into results and keep themselves firmly in the race for the top of the table.
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