San Diego Wave overcame a slow start in the first half for the second straight week in a 3-1 win against the North Carolina Courage at home. The Courage were the only NWSL team to not be beaten by the San Diego Wave at Snapdragon Stadium because of a scoreless draw in the last regular season match. Now, San Diego has a five-match unbeaten streak at Snapdragon Stadium.
The first goal had a very familiar look to many goals from last season as goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan started the play with a long pass in the air that could only be reached by the tall Taylor Kornieck who flicked the ball backwards to open space for a rushing forward. In this case, it was forward Jaedyn Shaw rushing up to place it into the left side of the net for the lead.
“We’ve practiced that a lot in training, and I know Taylor’s (Kornieck) capability in the air, I know Kailen’s (Sheridan) capability on the ball,” Shaw said. “At that moment I just had to take off running and watch it land literally in front of me.”
“We thought they would press higher with their full backs for their backline to be more susceptible behind, the message was there is more space… use it,” said head coach Casey Stoney about the halftime message to the team.
The team used that space just four minutes into the second half as midfielder Danielle Colaprico intercepted a ball in the middle of the pitch and sent it to Alex Morgan in front of the Courage back line which she avoided to send a strong shot to the right side of the goal to put the score at 2-0.
The second half featured a more confident Wave team highlighted by the veteran nine-year NWSL midfielder, Danielle Colaprico, who Stoney called “exceptional” after the match. Colaprico was a part of the NWSL’s first-ever free agent class last offseason and left the Chicago Red Stars after eight years joining the one of the newest NWSL club’s that features two of the youngest players in the league in 18-year-old Jaedyn Shaw and 15-year-old Melanie Barcenas.
“They’re so amazing, and I definitely was not doing the things they’re doing at that age, I definitely had a lot of my game to grow in, and it’s amazing to see them be so successful at such a young age,” Colaprico said. “(It’s) honestly inspiring to see, it makes me have to work harder in training. I’m just so happy to have them on our team.”
San Diego continued their high press confidently for the rest of the half and notched another goal in the 73rd minute after a long VAR check on a handball by North Carolina. The penalty was eventually awarded after a five minute pause in play and taken by Alex Morgan who sent it in easily on the right side for her brace, and the 3-0 lead.
San Diego Wave will not play another NWSL match until April 14, in their first away match against OL Reign at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. Six players will be away on international duty, but the Wave will play in a friendly during the break, according to Stoney. However the opponent nor the date have been announced by the club.