Wave’s unbeaten streak comes to an end in 2-1 defeat to the Reign

SAN DIEGO -- A Friday night to forget for the Wave, as two immense Reign finishes hand the San Diego Wave a 2-1 home defeat, snapping their club-most six-match unbeaten streak. 

The Wave returned from the Women’s International Break to host the Seattle Reign at Snapdragon Stadium for their Friday night matchday 11 NWSL matchup. 

Right before the international break, the Wave defeated the North Carolina Courage in 5-2 record-breaking fashion on May 25. 

A memorable victory for the club, earning their largest goal tally in a single match, as they also extended their unbeaten streak to a club record, six consecutive matches without a loss. 

The San Diego Wave came into their match against the Reign in second place in the NWSL standings with 20 points, coming off their six-win, two-loss and two-draw league record on the season. 

Their opponent, the Seattle Reign, sat in seventh place in the NWSL standings on 14 points from their four-win, four-loss and two-draw record. 

The Reign saw defeat in their last NWSL match before the Women’s International Break, falling 2-1 at Lumen Field against the Washington Spirit on May 23. 

The Wave looked to pick up where they left off in May, in hopes of extending the club's unbeaten record to seven consecutive matches. 

San Diego also hoped to improve its head-to-head record against the Reign, only defeating the club from Seattle once in their eleven all-time meetings.

The first 45-minute period ended goalless, with the Wave registering the only shots of the half (3) and the only shot on target, as Seattle Reign goalkeeper, Claudia Dickey, dealt with the attempt easily.

The Reign started the early minutes of the first half with dangerous runs created from pressing the Wave's backline build-up playstyle, but were unable to test the Wave goalkeeper, as Kailen Sheridan didn’t see a single shot or shot on frame in the first 45 minutes. 

Following the Reign's pressure, San Diego took control of the match tempo, finishing the first half with a 65%-35% advantage in ball possession. Although having large spells of that possession in their attacking half, they were unable to find a strong enough goal attempt. 

The Wave’s first big goal-threatening chance came at the 63-minute mark, with a centered corner kick by midfielder Savannah McCaskill finding leaping defender Trinity Armstrong inside the penalty box. 

Armstrong's headed shot on goal was ultimately read by Reign goalkeeper Claudia Dickey, as she made the catch on the goalline to keep the match scoreless and level. 

Reign midfielder Sally Menti broke the deadlock in the 67-minute with a fantastic right-footed long-range strike that found the far post side netting, leaving Wave goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan no chance on a saving play and gave Seattle the 1-0 lead. 

A day to remember for Sally Menti, as she found the net for her first professional career goal in her second NWSL match. 

The Wave answered back in the 75-minute with their own goal, coming off a centered corner kick by forward María Sánchez into the front post goal area.

Wave forward Delphine Cascarino got her head on the centered cross and pushed a shot into the middle of the net for the 1-1 equalizing goal. 

Cascarino claimed her third goal of the NWSL season. 

Delphine Cascarino would get another goal opportunity in the 78-minute, this time with her strike coming off the crossbar, then off the post, with the reigning NWSL goalkeeper of the month, Dickey, getting the crucial save to keep the go-ahead goal out. 

Reign forward Emeri Adames snatched the lead back in the closing moments of the 90 minutes, as the forward’s dribble created space just entering the penalty box, firing a left-footed driving shot over Wave’s Kailen Sheridan and into the goal for the 2-1 Reign advantage in the 87-minute. 

San Diego was unable to find a second leveling goal after an added seven minutes of injury time, as the final whistle blew with the Seattle Reign taking the 2-1 win on the road.

Wave head coach and NWSL Coach of the Month for May, Jonas Eidevall, spoke at the post-match press conference on the takeaways following their 2-1 loss against Seattle and managing off the back of the recent Women's International Break. 

“It's a difficult game to prepare for, both teams, because of the very short turnaround time when having players playing in different continents on Tuesday, and now they need to play here on Friday night.”

“I think we have plenty of things with our own performance where we can be better in.”

“Could we have scored more goals on the chances we have? Yeah, possibly could have, but there were also many other aspects in the game that I think we could have done better in, and I think that needs to be our focus points.”  

The Wave’s historic and club record six-match unbeaten streak came to an end, as they were defeated for the first time since their 2-0 April 12 loss against the NWSL leaders, Kansas City Current.

After their 2-1 Friday night loss against the Seattle Reign, the Wave remained at 20 points accumulated in NWSL play, with their record now reading six wins, three losses and two draws.

Following their two-match NWSL homestand, the Wave’s next league match sees them hit the road as they visit the Houston Dash at Shell Energy Stadium next Friday on June 13, for a 5 p.m. kickoff in hopes of getting back into their winning form.