WASHINGTON, D.C. - After going three matches without a victory, Wave FC delivered one of its biggest results of the season Sunday afternoon. Lia Godfrey's second-half goal proved to be the difference as San Diego defeated the Washington Spirit 1-0 at Audi Field, handing one of the NWSL's top teams a home defeat and moving the Wave back into the race near the top of the standings.
The victory for San Diego came against a Washington team that entered the day in second place, while the Wave sat in fifth. The result lifted San Diego back into the No. 3 spot (pending the outcome of tonight’s Thorns/Royals match) and dealt the Spirit a setback in the race for first place.
Playing through rainy conditions, both teams struggled to create clear scoring chances in a tightly contested first half. Possession was evenly split, but neither side was able to break through before halftime.
Washington looked more dangerous early in the second half, with Trinity Rodman and Rebeca Bernal each threatening the Wave defense. However, San Diego's back line, led by defender Mimi Van Zanten, limited Rodman's opportunities throughout the afternoon. Van Zanten's defensive work forced Rodman to switch sides for a period during the second half in search of more space, but the Spirit still struggled to create quality chances.
Head coach Jonas Eidevall turned to his bench in the 57th minute, bringing on Trinity Byars for Ludmila. The move paid off almost immediately.
Just three minutes later, Byars delivered a perfectly timed assist to Godfrey, who finished the chance to score her fifth goal of the season and give the Wave a 1-0 lead.
Trinity Byars fighting for possession. Credit: Wave FC Media
Byars once again made an immediate impact after entering the match. The forward entered the match with six goals this season and has now been directly involved in seven of San Diego's last 11 goals, further cementing her role as one of the team's most influential attacking players.
San Diego's defense took over from there.
The Spirit, led by Rodman, Leicy Santos, and Sofia Cantore, entered the match as one of the league's highest-scoring teams with 26 goals through 17 matches. But the Wave held Washington to only two shots on target, frustrating one of the NWSL's most dynamic offenses. Washington didn't earn its first corner kick until stoppage time in the second half, a testament to San Diego's defense throughout the match.
The Wave also continued another impressive trend. No opponent has scored more than two goals against San Diego in any match this season, and Sunday's clean sheet further demonstrated why the club remains one of the league's strongest defensive teams.
The result also extended San Diego's unbeaten run away from home to five matches, showing the Wave's ability to earn results in difficult environments against some of the league's top teams.
Trinity Byars and Kenza Dali. Credit: Wave FC Media
In the second half, Kimmi Ascanio was forced off with an injury before veteran midfielder Kenza Dali entered in relief. Adriana Leon and Tatum Wynalda also came off the bench in the closing minutes as San Diego protected its one-goal advantage.
For a team that has often created chances without finding the finishing touch, Sunday's performance showed the value of capitalizing on a key opportunity. Against one of the league's best teams on the road, one goal and disciplined defense were enough.
The victory moved San Diego back into third place while Washington remained second in the NWSL standings. It also ended the Wave's three-match winless streak and provided an important boost as the playoff race continues to tighten.
