San Diego Wave FC Clinches Playoff Spot in Orlando with Two-Goal Comeback
September 25, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – San Diego Wave FC News Release
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – San Diego Wave Fútbol Club (10-6-4, W-L-D) fought back from a two-goal deficit this evening to earn a point against Orlando Pride (5-9-6) in a historic night for the club. With the 2-2 draw, San Diego Wave FC clinched a spot in the 2022 NWSL Playoffs and became the first-ever expansion team to earn a playoff berth in their inaugural season.
The hosts scored tonight’s first two goals, starting in the 33rd minute, with Meggie Dougherty Howard finding space to Kailen Sheridan’s right. Orlando Pride then doubled their score in the 68th minute off a header by Gunny Jónsdóttir off a cross into the box.
Wave FC battled hard through both halves to get on the board, with Sofia Jakobsson and Katie Johnson bringing two of tonight’s best chances. Finally, Makenzy Doniak kept the fight alive for San Diego, scoring her third goal of the season in the 76th minute. After receiving the ball off a cross from Kelsey Turnbow, Doniak headed an impressive shot into the net from the center of the box.
An 87th-minute equalizer from Taylor Kornieck then sealed a point and a playoff berth for Wave FC as she scored against her former team following a set piece situation. Two late-game goals tonight helped San Diego clinch its first-ever playoff spot, and the team now turns focus to its final match of the regular season.
Notably, with three saves recorded tonight, goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan surpassed her 400th NWSL career save. Sheridan ranks fourth in the NWSL’s all-time list for saves. Despite going down early, center back and captain Abby Dahlkemper also reached a milestone, her 10,000th regular season minute in the NWSL.
With a playoff spot in hand, Wave FC returns home to Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Sept. 30, to face-off against the North Carolina Courage. Tickets for San Diego’s final home match are on sale now at www.sandiegowavefc.com/tickets.
Wave FC Goals: Makenzy Doniak (76′, Assisted by Kelsey Turnbow), Taylor Kornieck (87′)
Orlando Pride Goals: Meggie Dougherty Howard (33′, Assisted by Leah Pruitt)
Misconduct Summary
Wave FC: Jodie Taylor (44′ Yellow), Taylor Kornieck (77′, Yellow)
Orlando Pride:
Wave FC starting lineup
Goalkeeper: Kailen Sheridan
Defenders: Abby Dahlkemper (C), Naomi Girma, Christen Westphal, Kristen McNabb
Midfielders: Emily Van Egmond, Taylor Kornieck, Katie Johnson
Forwards: Jodie Taylor, Sofia Jakobsson, Jaedyn Shaw,
Game Changers Used: Kaleigh Riehl, Belle Briede, Kelsey Turnbow, Makenzy Doniak, Madison Pogarch
SD Wave Head Coach Casey Stoney:
On tonight’s match:
“Obviously, we wanted to better our performance from Angel City, and we didn’t really do that. I need to look at the team set up and how I set them up. The responsibility always lies with me but, having said that, it was an incredible comeback. Yet again, players that came on, the game changers made an immense difference, so I’m massively proud of them.”
On problems Orando created tonight:
“They (Orlando) did sit in, and I think we were a little bit impatient at times, especially early on in the game. We didn’t move it as smoothly as I would have liked. And they kept trying to play longer balls which we hadn’t moved them enough to be able to play it, which obviously, that created turnovers which then allowed them back into the game. So that patience with a purpose is really important. And listen, they played well tonight (Orlando). They obviously rotated their team, and credit to them. They came with a game plan, and they executed it, and I think that we could’ve executed ours a lot better. We were a little bit sloppy. The pitch was really quick. That’s not an excuse. We don’t train on a quick pitch, and obviously, when we trained here yesterday, it wasn’t quick at all, so I think that caught us by surprise. You can see why a lot of overhead passes and heavy touches, but we need to get that out of our system. We need to improve before North Carolina, who are playing very well at the moment and have a big game next Friday.”
On the team’s Pride shirts tonight:
“Well, I’m a gay female, and I don’t feel welcome in this state. I think it was a stand for us as a club to stand up for certain policies so that all communities can feel safe in any state, which I wouldn’t want to raise my children here. So, it was something that we chose to do as a collective.”
Wave FC Forward Kelsey Turnbow:
On tonight’s match:
“I’m really proud of the team for coming back from a deficit. I don’t think we started out the game as we wanted to, but we never gave up, and I think it’s hard being down, but we cranked it out and went along with the game one by one and earned a really important point for us to clinch a seed in playoffs. So, I’m really proud of our team, and we’re going to take this game and learn a lot from this game and move forward, looking forward to the next game.”
On coming into the match as game changers:
“I think it’s important to note that we call players that come into the game later game changers and that’s really the mentality that we channel whenever we come into the game. We really want to add extra energy and really push for a goal and up the energy whenever we come in. In a moment where the game was down, it was a really good opportunity for us to lift the team and get up a goal one by one and ultimately tie the game.”
On the team’s resiliency:
“I think that as an expansion team, we had an opportunity to really create a culture from day one that we wanted. So, every day, we’re competing in practice, and we lift each other up. We have each other’s backs when things aren’t going our way in a game, and I really think that whatever we do in practice reflects so well in the game because of that culture and that family oriented-ness that we have within our program.”
Wave FC Forward Makenzy Doniak:
On tonight’s match:
“Not our best performance but I think that we were able to grind out a point and clinch the playoffs is huge. We’re just taking that momentum into the next game and learning as we go.”
On adjustments after halftime:
“I think just our willingness to find the open player and play the space that they’re giving us. I think that not rushing to go forward and just playing what they gave us was huge for us.
Just really getting that grit and that passion to show in our tackles and not being reactive but proactive, everyone on the field.”
On her goal tonight:
“I think me and Kels were joking, we were connecting in the warmup. I think just that willingness to cross and just really get in the box and that mentality of ‘I’m going to get on the end of this ball and Kelsey’s going to hit me a great ball.’ She did, and I was able to just do that. So, I think just the mentality of ‘I’m going to score and I’m going to get on every chance I can.'”
On if clinching the playoffs takes a weight off their shoulders:
“I don’t think so. I think we still look at it as a huge challenge, and I think we want to keep pushing the limit. We’re not just going to take our foot off the break just because we made it. I think we want to prove to ourselves that we can get higher and higher, and I think that’s what we’re going to do next week.”
On being the first expansion team to reach the playoffs in their first season:
“It’s huge. I think for an expansion team to come in and make the impact we have; I think we’re very honored. I think as a team, we’ve proven to ourselves that we might be new but the way we’ve created a great culture on this team and worked so hard. I think it’s just a testament of our hard work all season, and we’re not going to take our foot off the break. We’re just going to keep going.”
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