After a dramatic 3-2 victory in front of an NWSL record season-opening attendance of 30,854 on March 25 at Snapdragon Stadium, the San Diego Wave look to keep the momentum going when they take on the North Carolina Courage at home on Saturday, April 1.
The last time the two teams met was in the 2022 regular-season finale in San Diego with North Carolina controlling its destiny and needing a win to make the playoffs. The Courage was coming into the match having won five of its previous six games but they did not get the result needed at Snapdragon having to settle for a scoreless draw, which gave the final playoff spot to Chicago and locked in San Diego as the third seed.
North Carolina no longer has the services of Mexican national team star Diana Ordoñez, who led them in goals last season with 11, and now plays forward for the Houston Dash. The Courage is also without Brazilian national team forward Debinha who now plays for the Kansas City Current.
“We want to build on our performance from last week and improve,” said San Diego Wave head coach Casey Stoney. “It’s a big game, North Carolina looked comfortable in their opening game, so we know it’s going to be very competitive.”
After the match on Saturday, San Diego will not play another game until April 15 when it travels to face off with OL Reign at Lumen Field in Seattle. During that two-week interval forward Alex Morgan, defender Naomi Girma, midfielder Taylor Kornieck, goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, midfielder Emily van Egmond, and forward Sofia Jakobsson will be representing their respective national teams during international competition.
San Diego Wave plays at home again on April 19 against the defending champion Portland Thorns in its opening match of the NSWL Challenge Cup.
“I’m excited for the win this past weekend at home with all of our supporters there” said San Diego forward Amirah Ali, who scored in the 22nd minute against Chicago to tie the game 1-1 at the time. “We know that North Carolina has a different system. Hopefully, with this next game, we can get on the board first and not have to come back.”
Player to watch out for on Saturday: Kiki Pickett
North Carolina defender Kiki Pickett played alongside San Diego Wave defender Naomi Girma and midfielder Sierra Enge in 2019 when they led Stanford University to the NCAA national championship.
“I just think those players are so technical and so knowledgeable about the game,” said Pickett. “I think being with them in any game would be great. They are always calm on the ball. Even training with them is great because they push you to be the greatest player you can be.”
Pickett also won the 2017 national championship playing with San Diego Wave midfielder Isabella Briede and former San Diego Wave player and current Portland Thorns defender Tegan McGrady.
Photos courtesy of David Frerker, NC Courage
