After a slow start for the Wave caused by a mix of injuries and a lack of execution from those who played, it’s time to show that this group of attackers is one of the best in the league.
Now two months into the season, here is where things stand in the NWSL (credit to NWSLsoccer.com):
As it stands, the defending champion NJ/NY Gotham FC and defending shield winner Wave are the most middle-of-the-pack teams.
Right beneath them is Angel City FC with 10 points in nine matches.
This is a team that the Wave should beat.
The same could be said for the 10th-place Racing Louisville, 11th-place Bay FC and 13th-place Seattle Reign, all of whom the Wave tried but could not beat on the road.
The fact remains: the Wave have yet to win a road match this season. They’re one of five teams who remain winless on away days with just two goals scored and lost three times in their first four matches away from the home crowds of Snapdragon Stadium.
That won’t cut it for a team with championship aspirations after being one win away from a championship berth in two consecutive seasons, but they know that.
“The two road games that we have conceded, like we've got to manage those moments better,” Casey Stoney said. “We've spoken about it this week. We have to acknowledge it. It happens. How do we keep doing what we've done but do it better? How do we make sure that we're playing at the right intensity and our intensity goes up, not down when we concede and not let it knock us?”
Their most recent loss came at the heels of a great first half against expansion side Bay FC but a second half that uncharacteristically gave up two goals to snap Bay’s five-match losing streak.
“I think they've been unfortunate with some of their results. So yeah, obviously, it's a rival game in terms of California. We need to respond from a poor defeat last week when we controlled the game for pretty much 55 minutes until they scored and we've got to respond from them and be better,” Stoney said.
As the Wave get healthier with Naomi Girma, Abby Dahlkemper, Alex Morgan and Jaedyn Shaw returning in the last two matches, their play should show like it, too.
They’ll still be without Kennedy Wesley (hip), Christen Westphal (hip) and Makenzy Doniak (lower leg), which isn’t nothing, but they had their share of chances to win each match and with their stars back, injuries can’t continue to be an excuse.
Their match against Angel City at BMO Stadium on Thursday is a chance to get back on track into the third month of the season.
“It's really important. I think every game in this league is important, but it's important for us now, Obviously, like you say, we've been pretty inconsistent in the first half of the season. and we're going into an international break. We want to send the players off happy with a win but we also know we're playing at a side that can hurt you as well.”