1 month ago
Gia Corley and Melanie Barcenas scored and the San Diego Wave beat the visiting North Carolina Courage 2-1 on Saturday.
In the day's other National Women's Soccer League matches, the Utah Royals edged the Houston Dash 1-0 and the Seattle Reign defeated Bay FC 2-0.
Corley scored her first NWSL goal in the 23rd minute and Barcenas added a curling shot for a goal in the 72nd to give the Wave a 2-0 lead at Snapdragon Stadium.
Ashley Sanchez got her 19th goal of the season in the 82nd and North Carolina (12-9-3) avoided the shutout.
Sanchez leads the Golden Boot race with 19 goals this season, setting the record for most goals scored by an American player in a single season. She is one goal away from Temwa Chawinga's NWSL record.
#season
In the day's other National Women's Soccer League matches, the Utah Royals edged the Houston Dash 1-0 and the Seattle Reign defeated Bay FC 2-0.
Corley scored her first NWSL goal in the 23rd minute and Barcenas added a curling shot for a goal in the 72nd to give the Wave a 2-0 lead at Snapdragon Stadium.
Ashley Sanchez got her 19th goal of the season in the 82nd and North Carolina (12-9-3) avoided the shutout.
Sanchez leads the Golden Boot race with 19 goals this season, setting the record for most goals scored by an American player in a single season. She is one goal away from Temwa Chawinga's NWSL record.
#season
1 month ago
San Diego native Maddie Mercado scored the game-winning goal in the 29th minute as Seattle Reign FC defeated San Diego Wave FC 1-0 at Lumen Field on Sunday evening. The 25-year-old forward has now scored in both matches against her hometown team this season.
Mercado has continued her breakout season for Seattle, leading the team with eight goals. Claudia ****** ey had a standout performance between the posts, logging six saves and securing a clean sheet before leaving the match late due to an injury. Reign backup goalkeeper Cassie Miller replaced ****** ey late in the match.
Since returning from the summer break, Seattle remains unbeaten at home and has entered the playoff picture with this result. They handed San Diego its first loss since early August, snapping its two-game win streak. Wave FC is now tied for third place in the standings alongside the NC Courage and Utah Royals, with 39 points.
San Diego played with 10 players for most of the match after rookie defender Mimi Van Zanten made a questionable challenge during a Seattle transition play. Van Zanten and Kennedy Wesley were the last line of defense, and Van Zanten tripped Maddie Dahlien far away from the net.
After further review, the referee deemed the play a denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and gave her a red card in the 13th minute. Wave head coach Jonas Eidevall looked to his bench for defensive help, subbing on Brooklyn Courtnall for skilled forward Melanie Barcenas.
#mercado
Mercado has continued her breakout season for Seattle, leading the team with eight goals. Claudia ****** ey had a standout performance between the posts, logging six saves and securing a clean sheet before leaving the match late due to an injury. Reign backup goalkeeper Cassie Miller replaced ****** ey late in the match.
Since returning from the summer break, Seattle remains unbeaten at home and has entered the playoff picture with this result. They handed San Diego its first loss since early August, snapping its two-game win streak. Wave FC is now tied for third place in the standings alongside the NC Courage and Utah Royals, with 39 points.
San Diego played with 10 players for most of the match after rookie defender Mimi Van Zanten made a questionable challenge during a Seattle transition play. Van Zanten and Kennedy Wesley were the last line of defense, and Van Zanten tripped Maddie Dahlien far away from the net.
After further review, the referee deemed the play a denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and gave her a red card in the 13th minute. Wave head coach Jonas Eidevall looked to his bench for defensive help, subbing on Brooklyn Courtnall for skilled forward Melanie Barcenas.
#mercado
2 months ago
With the NWSL season in full swing, we take a look at several young players who are making their mark on the pitch. From amazing talent with the ball, incredible work-rates, and finishing abilities, these players embody the traits footballers strive for.
As teams try to make their way up the table to secure playoff spots, these players will be instrumental in their teams' success. Here are just six of many great young talents in the NWSL this season.
Melanie Barcenas is THAT player. As a defender, you know what that means. Nothing is more terrifying than being up against her one-on-one. Barcenas' control of the ball when it is at her feet is simply ridiculous. Her goal against Denver earlier this season was absolutely unfair.
One of the young players that has signed with NWSL sides, Barcenas was 15 when she first put pen to paper for San Diego. At 18 now, she is still growing and developing her game. Her talent is off the charts, and she matches it with a fierce energy and the exuberance of youth.
Embed from Getty Images
#nwsl #barcenas #teams #here
As teams try to make their way up the table to secure playoff spots, these players will be instrumental in their teams' success. Here are just six of many great young talents in the NWSL this season.
Melanie Barcenas is THAT player. As a defender, you know what that means. Nothing is more terrifying than being up against her one-on-one. Barcenas' control of the ball when it is at her feet is simply ridiculous. Her goal against Denver earlier this season was absolutely unfair.
One of the young players that has signed with NWSL sides, Barcenas was 15 when she first put pen to paper for San Diego. At 18 now, she is still growing and developing her game. Her talent is off the charts, and she matches it with a fierce energy and the exuberance of youth.
Embed from Getty Images
#nwsl #barcenas #teams #here
2 months ago
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Trinity Byars had two goals and two ****** ists, and the San Diego Wave downed the visiting Utah Royals 4-2 in the National Women's Soccer League on Friday night.
The Wave (11-7-3) had won just one of their last six matches. The victory pulled them into a tie on points with the Royals for third in the league standings, behind Gotham FC and the Washington Spirit.
Byars scored her first in the fourth minute, taking a long pass from Melanie Barcenas and striking the ball from distance into the opposite corner.
Utah's Mina Tanaka tied it in the 29th minute with a curling shot from the top of the box. Before halftime, Barcenas put the Wave back in front with a goal off an ****** ist from Byars.
Tanaka scored her second goal, and eighth of the season, just moments into the second half to tie it again for the Royals (11-7-3). But Byars added her second goal in the 62nd minute to give the Wave back the lead. Byars also has eight goals this season.
#goal #diego
The Wave (11-7-3) had won just one of their last six matches. The victory pulled them into a tie on points with the Royals for third in the league standings, behind Gotham FC and the Washington Spirit.
Byars scored her first in the fourth minute, taking a long pass from Melanie Barcenas and striking the ball from distance into the opposite corner.
Utah's Mina Tanaka tied it in the 29th minute with a curling shot from the top of the box. Before halftime, Barcenas put the Wave back in front with a goal off an ****** ist from Byars.
Tanaka scored her second goal, and eighth of the season, just moments into the second half to tie it again for the Royals (11-7-3). But Byars added her second goal in the 62nd minute to give the Wave back the lead. Byars also has eight goals this season.
#goal #diego
4 months ago
Panama face England at the New York/New Jersey Stadium on Saturday evening, already eliminated from the 2026 World Cup and playing their final group game with nothing but pride at stake.
Two competitive 1–0 defeats to Ghana and Croatia have confirmed their exit. The Canal Men have not scored in either match and remain without a point at this World Cup. Against the most technically accomplished side they have faced at this tournament, breaking that duck will require something close to perfect.
Thomas Christiansen has a near-complete squad available but is without his two most influential midfielders. Adalberto Carrasquilla has not featured at this World Cup due to an adductor injury and suffered a further setback before the Croatia match. With nothing at stake in this fixture, Christiansen has no reason to rush him back.
Captain Anibal Godoy — Panama’s all-time appearance record holder with 160 caps — has managed just one minute of regular action at this tournament through lack of match fitness and is unlikely to start here.
In their absence, the midfield four of Cristian Martínez, Carlos Harvey, Yoel Bárcenas and José Luis Rodríguez is expected to continue in front of a disciplined back five. Amir Murillo operates as right-wing back alongside César Blackman on the left.
Two competitive 1–0 defeats to Ghana and Croatia have confirmed their exit. The Canal Men have not scored in either match and remain without a point at this World Cup. Against the most technically accomplished side they have faced at this tournament, breaking that duck will require something close to perfect.
Thomas Christiansen has a near-complete squad available but is without his two most influential midfielders. Adalberto Carrasquilla has not featured at this World Cup due to an adductor injury and suffered a further setback before the Croatia match. With nothing at stake in this fixture, Christiansen has no reason to rush him back.
Captain Anibal Godoy — Panama’s all-time appearance record holder with 160 caps — has managed just one minute of regular action at this tournament through lack of match fitness and is unlikely to start here.
In their absence, the midfield four of Cristian Martínez, Carlos Harvey, Yoel Bárcenas and José Luis Rodríguez is expected to continue in front of a disciplined back five. Amir Murillo operates as right-wing back alongside César Blackman on the left.
