**San Diego, California** – San Diego Wave FC defeated Angel City FC in its first-ever contest at Snapdragon Stadium, with Jaedyn Shaw’s first half goal sending the 32,000-capacity crowd into a frenzy with the result sending the hosts to the top of the league table.
The opening few minutes saw the two sides go back and forth with Angel City asking a question of San Diego goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan in the 13 ^th minute. As the teams settled into the match, it was midfielder Savannah McCaskill who produced a good opening look as she fired on goal from some distance. Sheridan had the shot covered, but it was still an appropriate wake up call for the Wave defense who were doing their best to stay high and help create opportunities for their own attack.
Then, in the 16 ^th minute, McCaskill was at it again as she fired just high over the Wave goal to again put a scare in the hosts’ defense. Attacker Jun Endo did well to win the ball off the San Diego defense and help start a move deep into Wave territory. As Endo approached the endline, the playmaker fired the ball into the box where McCaskill was waiting in space. Looking up, McCaskill took a touch and then fired toward goal only for the ball to soar over the crossbar as the visitors pressed ahead.
The hosts were not without opportunities of their own, though, with forward Jaedyn Shaw scoring her third goal of the season in her third start as she opened the scoring in the 31 ^st minute. Midfielder Sofia Jakobsson was in possession on the right flank and attempted a cross into the box that was cleared back near midfielder. However, San Diego forward Jodie Taylor did well to connect with a bouncing ball to play Jakobsson back forward in a similar position on the right. From there, she was able to pick out the head of the forward Shaw with a clipped cross in and Shaw headed home to beat Haracic for the first goal in Snapdragon Stadium history.
Three minutes later however, the visitors were back on the attack and called Sheridan back into action when the attacker Endo forced her to produce a diving stop to her right to prevent an equalizer. Endo had been dancing around the edge of the penalty area looking for a way through when the catalyst decided to look up and rip a left-footed shot toward the bottom left corner. Sheridan was able to see it all the way though as she pushed it out for a corner that was ultimately harmless.
Angel City attempted to work their way back into the match late in the half with a chance for forward Claire Emslie in the 44 ^th minute, but the ball in for the goalscorer at the back post saw her collide in a 50/50 aerial challenge with Shaw and the chance went missing from just a few yards out.
At the half, though, San Diego held onto its one-goal lead via Shaw’s skillful header.
Into the second half, both San Diego and Angel City created several looks on goal but it was the visitors who mounted pressure on the Wave goal as the half grew on. Then, in the 72 ^nd minute, forward Claire Emslie was judged to have been brought down just inside the penalty area and the referee pointed to the penalty spot in a sudden shift in atmosphere. Up to take was the midfielder McCaskill, but she was facing one of the best penalty stoppers in league history in Sheridan. Aiming to her left and the goalkeeper’s right with the effort, Sheridan guessed correctly and was able to keep the ball out of the back of the net.
From there, momentum continued to be in San Diego’s favor though Angel City certainly would not go quietly into the night. Substitute forward Jodie Taylor had a half-chance pop up just around the edge of the visitors’ penalty area toward the end of regulation, but it was nothing the netminder Haracic was incapable of handling as time ticked on.
At the end of four minutes of added time, the fulltime whistle blew and the Snapdragon Stadium crowd erupted as San Diego defeated Angel City by the lone goal from Shaw, sending the hosts to the top of the table at the end of a big night.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights