The San Diego Wave’s recent struggles continued Friday night at Snapdragon Stadium, as Gotham FC left Southern California with a 2-0 victory.

The defeat marks the Wave’s third loss in their last four games and continues a challenging stretch since returning from the international break on August 2nd, during which San Diego has managed just one win.

Friday’s loss also had immediate consequences in the NWSL standings. Gotham FC’s victory pushed San Diego down to fourth place, overtaken by the New Jersey-based club, and raised more questions about the Wave’s ability to convert their talent into consistent results.

In goal, Kailen Sheridan conceded multiple goals for the second consecutive match, a rare occurrence for the hyper-talented goalkeeper. Esther González opened the scoring for Gotham, followed by a strike from former Wave player Jaedyn Shaw. A third potential goal for the visitors was nullified due to a controversial offsides call, though it did little to change the narrative of the game.

Despite the setbacks, head coach Jonas Eidevall emphasized the importance of perspective and resilience. “Adversity will happen to people or to teams at various points, and everything about now is how we respond,” Eidevall said. He then went on to express that the rest of the season will reveal what type of team San Diego really has.

“There’s a difference between personality and character, because personality is what you say you want to be, and character is who you really are,” He eloquently stated. “And futbol will always reveal your character. And now we reveal our character as a team and that, that’s the moment that we’re in.”

The Wave’s next challenge comes on September 20th, when they visit the Portland Thorns at Providence Park. With the playoffs approaching and top-tier competition ahead, Eidevall knows the team must dig deep if it hopes to prove its standing among the league’s elite.

While the scoreboard remains a source of frustration, the Wave’s talent and depth are undeniable. Their ability to respond to this moment of adversity could define not just the remainder of the regular season, but their postseason trajectory as well.

Sitting at 4th in the NWSL with the playoffs looming, San Diego will be looking to turn lessons from recent struggles into results when they face Portland on Saturday.