San Diego Wave FC looks to continue its hot streak when it faces the Chicago Red Stars at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 15, at Torero Stadium.
San Diego has shutout its first two opponents to start the NWSL regular season, first blanking the Houston Dash 1-0 on the road in the opener thanks to a late goal from forward Jodie Taylor, followed by a 4-0 trouncing at home of Gotham FC courtesy of a four-goal performance from forward Alex Morgan.
“I’m very much of the opinion you’re only as good as your last game, so we don’t want the [next match] to be a low point for us,” said Wave head coach Casey Stoney.
San Diego currently sits on top of the NWSL standings with six points while Chicago has three points having played only one match so far, which was a 2-1 home victory over Racing Louisville on April 30. After finishing fourth in the standings last season, the Red Stars made it to the NWSL championship game falling to the Washington Spirit 2-1 in the final.
The team is led by head coach Chris Petrucelli and also competed in the recently concluded Challenge Cup going 2-2-2 in its six matches, just missing out on the semifinal round after losing to the Kansas City Current in their final match of the tournament.
“People aren’t going to second-guess us anymore and they’re not going to take us for granted,” said Wave goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan after the victory versus Gotham FC last Saturday. “I think originally when people saw us they thought they could come in here and be successful. I think we’ve kind of turned that around and people are going to come here and think differently now.”
After the game on Sunday, San Diego will not be back playing at Torero Stadium until June 8 after the team completes a four-game road trip that will see them play two teams that made the playoffs last season in the North Carolina Courage on May 22, and OL Reign on May 29.
Photo courtesy: San Diego Wave FC