Photo credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
San Diego Wave continued their impressive form, solidifying their top position in the standings with a dramatic comeback win against the Denver Summit on Saturday. Meanwhile, Gotham FC, Chicago Stars, and North Carolina Courage all achieved clean sheet victories in their respective matches.
San Diego mounts thrilling comeback to beat Denver 3-2
Denver Summit started strong, taking a 2-0 lead in the first half thanks to goals from Melissa Kössler and Natasha Flint. However, the Wave turned the tide in the second half, scoring three times in just 16 minutes.
The comeback began in the 49th minute with Lia Godfrey netting her fourth goal of the season, a record-setting tally for most goals by a rookie in the club’s history, off a play orchestrated by Kimmi Ascanio.
Just eight minutes later, Kennedy Wesley equalized for San Diego with a precise header following an assist from Godfrey, marking her first professional assist. Dudinha sealed the victory in the 65th minute, with a cross that deflected off Denver’s Carson Pickett for an own goal.
Gotham secures first home win with a decisive 3-0 against Bay FC
Gotham FC bounced back to secure their first home victory of the season, achieving a comprehensive 3-0 win over Bay FC. After a rocky start to the year, Gotham’s defense stood resolute, recording a clean sheet.
Making her debut, Guro Reiten replaced Lilly Reale, who is sidelined with a foot injury from the SheBelieves Cup. Gotham took the lead in the 20th minute through an own goal by Bay FC, followed by a brilliant strike from Rose Lavelle in the 40th minute, assisted by Jordynn Dudley.
To cap off their scoring, Lavelle earned a penalty before half-time, converted by Esther González. Despite Bay FC outshooting by a margin of 25-3, they struggled to find their form and remain in search of consistency.
Chicago snaps losing streak with 2-0 victory against Boston
The Chicago Stars broke their three-match losing streak with a solid 2-0 win over the Boston Legacy. The victory brought much-needed morale to the Stars, while Boston continues to struggle, having lost all five games this season.
Star forward Jordyn Huitema opened the scoring early in the 10th minute from a well-worked corner. Subsequently, Nádia Gomes doubled the lead in the 51st minute, marking her first goal of the season. Goalkeeper Katie Atkinson made a standout contribution with eight saves, tying her career high and ensuring the clean sheet.
Ashley Sanchez leads Courage to narrow 1-0 win over Dash
Ashley Sanchez was the hero for the North Carolina Courage, scoring her fourth goal of the season off an assist from Manaka Matsukubo to help her team secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Houston Dash.
The match took a tense turn in the 77th minute when Ally Schlegel received a red card for a high challenge on Dash midfielder Danielle Colaprico. Despite being down a player, the Courage managed to maintain their lead, showcasing their resilience in a tightly contested match.
