San Diego, Calif.– The San Diego Wave FC (2-0-0, 6 points) won its second straight contest of the 2023 season on Saturday night against a young North Carolina Courage team (1-1-0, 3 points), beating them 3-1 at Snapdragon Stadium.
The Courage played the Wave well for much of the first half, leading in possession and shots. But San Diego jumped on a loose ball that led to a wide open look on goal with just five minutes left in the period and Jaedyn Shaw took advantage to give the Wave an early advantage in the 39th minute. That momentum swing just before the break would be too much to overcome.
Goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan served a long ball that midfielder Taylor Kornieck caught up to it behind the backline and smashed it in from the the top left corner. It was her second goal of the season.
Sheridan earned her 100th appearance tonight in NWSL with her start for the San Diego Wave. The Canadian National Team goalkeeper was named the 2022 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year in the Wave’s inaugural season.
Kerolin Nicoli drew a penalty just a few minutes later and would convert one of her own to get the Courage on the score board in the 77th minute by the Brazilian. North Carolina would send some crosses into the box to try and get back within a goal, but Sheridan was a monster between the pipes.
The three-goal game was the first back-to-back three goal game in the club history.
Then the Wave intercepted a pass that put Alex Morgan in behind in the first five minutes of the second half, and she would strike to double the Wave advantage. A VAR review led to a handball penalty against the Courage in the 73’ and Morgan converted to put the match seemingly out of reach.
Morgan’s penalty kick was her 10th career regular-season PK goal. She is perfect from the spot for San Diego.
With the two goals tonight, Shaw and Morgan are the first pair of teammates to score in each of a team’s first two games of an NWSL season.
Box Score:San Diego Wave FC 3:1 North Carolina Courage
Scoring Summary:SD – Shaw (2) 39’SD – Morgan (2) (Colaprico 1) 48’SD – Morgan (3) (Penalty Kick) 73’NC – Nicoli (1) (Penalty Kick) 77’
Next on the schedule: Following a weekend break due to the FIFA window, Wave FC will return to league play on the road on Saturday, April 15, at Lumen Field against OL Reign. Beginning at 7:00 p.m. PT, the match will be available on Paramount+.
The Courage take a week off during the international FIFA window before returning to action on April 15, when they host Trinity Rodman and the Washington Spirit at 7:00 p.m. ET at WakeMed Soccer Park.
