San Diego Women's Soccer Team Wins In Regular-Season Debut

SAN DIEGO, CA — The San Diego Wave Fútbol Club defeated the Houston Dash, 1-0, Sunday evening in Houston in its first National Women's Soccer League regular-season game with Jodie Taylor scoring in the 86th minute

Rookie defender Mia Gyau sent a cross into the penalty area that Katie Johnson headed over to Taylor, who put a right-footed shot from about four yards out past Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell into the center of the net.

"I was just in the right place at the right time to put the ball in the back of the net," Taylor said.

All three players involved in the scoring sequence began the game on the bench. Taylor entered the game in the 66th minute, Gyau in the 75th and Johnson in the 85th.

"It's incredible that the players are coming off the bench and making an impact in the way that we want," Wave FC coach Casey Stoney said. "That's why we call the game changers game changers, because they've come on and done exactly that."

Kailen Sheridan made two saves for the shutout. Campbell made one save. Wave FC was outshot, 11-5. Both teams had two shots on goal before a crowd at PNC Stadium announced at 7,722.

Wave FC was 1-3-2 in NWSL Challenge Cup tournament, finishing third in the four-team West Division, failing to advance to the semifinals.

"I'm extremely proud of this team and how far it has come," said Stoney, whose team will play its first home regular-season game Saturday against NJ/NY Gotham FC at Torero Stadium. "They had more chances than us, but coming here in a heat that we're not used to and being able to grind out a result.

"For me the most pleasing thing is we've kept a clean sheet and players have come off the bench yet again and made a huge difference to the game. It's a massive three points on the road for us."

— City News Service