A familiar face spoiled the San Diego Wave’s NWSL season opener.
Former San Diego Wave forward Makenzy Robbe, who spent three seasons with the club, scored in first-half stoppage time to lead the visiting Houston Dash to a 1-0 win at Snapdragon Stadium.
Up until the final moments of the first half, the Wave controlled the game, making good runs and generating shots on goal.
One moment changed that.
In the 52nd minute, Dash midfielder Maggie Graham sent a pass from behind the midway line toward Robbe, who got behind the Wave defense and shot the ball as she was being dragged down by Kennedy Wesley. The ball slipped past Wave goalkeeper DiDi Haračić for the opening goal.
Robbe, who went by Makenzy Doniak while with the Wave, ran toward the northeast side of Snapdragon Stadium, pointed into the stands and threw up a heart as three people stood up cheering for her. As the halftime whistle sounded, her teammates high-fived and congratulated her as they walked into the tunnel.
Another major factor in the game was Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell, who seemed as big as the goal itself while making nine saves.
“Tonight, the goalkeeper of Houston had the performance of the match for me, and that means a lot,” Wave team captain Kenza Dali said.
San Diego unveiled a new Brazilian trio with Dudinha on the left, Ludmila in the middle and Gabi Portilho on the right-hand side. The trio looked dangerous at several moments in the match but could not find the back of the net.
In the second half, the Wave added more pressure on Houston, setting up several attacking opportunities.
Coach Jonas Eidevall instructed Dudinha and Gabi Portilho to switch sides around the 64th minute, and that is when the Wave had their best opportunity to equalize. Dudinha raced down the right-hand side and sent a pass into the box, but no one was there to take advantage. The ball fell to Ludmila, who evaded her defender and fired a shot toward goal, but the attempt sailed upward.
In the 75th minute, Ludmila sent a nice pass down the right-hand side to Dudinha, who positioned herself well to send a pass into the middle for Ludmila. She got a shot off, but Campbell blocked it.
Two minutes later, Campbell continued her heroic night when she stopped two back-to-back attempts from midfielders Lia Godfrey and Gia Corley.
The Wave’s Dudinha kicks the ball toward the goal as Houston Dash’s Avery Patterson defends in the first half at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego on Saturday, March 14, 2026. (Hayne Palmour IV / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Even when Eidevall substituted Dudinha and Portilho, the attack from Godfrey and Melanie Barcenas remained dangerous, but they could not get one past Campbell.
San Diego controlled the ball 71% of the time. The Wave also had nine shots on goal compared to Houston’s two, but Houston is going home with the three points.
“I think there are a lot of good moments, and I think it’s important that we remember and hone in on those good moments,” Wesley said. “We know that there are some areas to improve as well. I think going into a long year, a long season, and we’re just looking at the next game in front of us against Utah, and how we can improve in the areas we need to.”
San Diego will travel to the Utah Royals looking to pull to .500 on the season. The match is March 22 at 4 p.m.