The San Diego Wave have another quick turnaround, facing the Orlando Pride on Sunday afternoon at Snapdragon Stadium in what will be their second match in four days.
Coach Jonas Eidevall’s squad forged a 2-2 draw against the Houston Dash on Wednesday evening. The Wave’s defense played better against the struggling Dash than the final score would indicate, Eidevall said.
The Wave controlled the ball for nearly 59% of the game; the team outshot the Dash 19-3, though Houston scored on both its shots on goal.
“In the game they barely create(d) any chances, to be honest,” Eidevall said after the match. “The second goal is a half-decent chance that they have; apart from that, there’s not really a chance in the game.”
Houston’s first goal, from Kate Faasse, was a 69th-minute shot from beyond the box that got past outstretched Wave goalkeeper DiDi Haračić.
The Dash’s second goal was less fluky. The well-designed play ended with a rocket of a shot from Kat Rader in the 88th minute that went past the hands of Haračić.
San Diego (7-3-1) dropped to second place in the National Women’s Soccer League standings, trailing the Portland Thorns.
Visiting Orlando (3-5-2) sits 11th in the NWSL with 11 points. The Pride is coming off back-to-back losses to Denver and Boston, where the team was outscored 5-2.
Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda (22) celebrates after scoring a goal during an NWSL soccer match against the Chicago Stars, Friday, March 14, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
The Pride’s offense is dangerous. NWSL goal leader Barbra Banda has scored nine times this season, while the next closest player has six.
In the game against Denver, Banda scored the best goal of the night after midfielder Haley McCutcheon stole the ball near midfield. Banda raced past three Summit FC defenders, received the pass and scored her ninth goal of the season in the 71st minute. She is a dangerous weapon that will give the Wave defense fits.
“We don’t concede a lot of chances, and it’s important that the ones that the attacks that they create, we need to be a little more focused,” Wave defender Kennedy Wesley said. “A little bit in better positions, willing to win second balls and whatnot.”
San Diego needs to finish off its scoring chances. Missed shots lead to missed points in the standings, which could hurt the club in the long run.
The Wave was able to get a 94th-minute goal from Trinity Byars on Wednesday to pull even and rescue a point in the standings. She now has two goals in her last two games.
“To come back and get a point on the road is really big for us,” Wesley said. “So, we’re happy with a lot of things, but we know that this game showed us there are a lot of things we need to improve on before going into the game against Orlando.”
San Diego Wave (7-3-1) vs. Orlando Pride (3-5-2)
When: 4 p.m. Sunday
Where: Snapdragon Stadium