With Albion San Diego and San Diego Loyal already qualified for the postseason in their respective leagues, San Diego Wave Fútbol Club looks to punch its ticket into the NWSL playoffs this weekend. The Wave currently sits as the second seed and only needs one point over its final two matches to make the postseason, which it can get this Sunday versus the Orlando Pride at Exploria Stadium.
By the time the team, led by head coach Casey Stoney, hits the pitch, it may have already secured its playoff birth as long as North Carolina Courage loses its game against Gotham FC on Saturday afternoon.
“We know we’ve got a tough away trip to Orlando,” said Stoney. “They’re a good side, they’ve given us problems before, so we will need to make sure we are at our very best.”
The last time the two teams met was on Aug. 13 at Torero Stadium when Orlando came out with a 1-0 victory thanks to a penalty kick conversion in the 23rd minute by midfielder Meggie Dougherty Howard. The Wave was able to bounce back from that defeat winning three out of the next four including its most recent match at Snapdragon Stadium against Angel City FC thanks to a 30th-minute goal by forward Jaedyn Shaw and a penalty kick save from goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan.
“Obviously, we are very lucky to have Jaedyn (Shaw) on our roster,” Stoney added. “Seventeen years old, extreme maturity for such a young age, never gets phased by anything, super talent. What she can do with the ball is frightening.”
Shaw has scored three goals in the three matches she has played in this season since being signed in mid-July. She has also provided a balance to the San Diego Wave attack, which is led by NWSL scoring leader Alex Morgan who is three goals away from tying the single-season record set in 2019 by Samantha Kerr with 18.
Besides clinching the playoffs this weekend, the Wave looks to finish if not in first place in the standings then hopefully in second by the time the regular season ends, which would guarantee a first-round bye. The one through five seeds are currently separated by only two points with the Chicago Red Stars, Angel City, and North Carolina Courage all fighting for the sixth and final playoff spot.
San Diego Wave plays its last game of the regular season at Snapdragon Stadium on Sept. 30 against NC Courage in a match with huge implications for both sides.
Photo courtesy of David Frerker
