One week after Albion San Diego clinched its trip to the postseason after resounding victories over the Savannah Clovers and Gold Star FC Detroit, San Diego Wave, and San Diego Loyal punched tickets to the playoffs with victories on Saturday.
San Diego Wave defeated the Portland Thorns 2-0 at Providence Park thanks to a 20th-minute right-footed shot from forward Kyra Carusa and a 38th-minute header by teammate Alex Morgan that just got past goalkeeper Bella Bixby. Wave got another outstanding performance from goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan who earned her seventh regular-season clean sheet making several key saves throughout the match.
The victory also places the team, led by head coach Casey Stoney, back in first place with 33 points as it plays the two remaining games against the North Carolina Courage on Oct. 7 at WakeMed Soccer Park and Racing Louisville on Oct. 15 at Snapdragon Stadium.
Portland was without the services of NWSL leading scorer Sophia Smith who has 11 goals, and former Wave defender Tegan McGrady, as both were dealing with knee injuries. If the Wave can finish among the top two seeds in the standings it will earn a bye in the quarterfinal round and guarantee itself a home match for the semifinals.
San Diego Loyal earned its trip to the playoffs after a dominating 4-1 win over Monterey Bay at Torero Stadium thanks to a hat-trick from Ronaldo “The Haitian Sensation” Damus and a goal from defender Carlos Guzman.
Monterey Bay took the lead in the 19th minute with a goal by defender Morey Doner who managed to split the defenders and get the ball by the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Koke Vegas.
Loyal took complete control after that with Damus scoring in the 26th minute followed by Guzman in the 29th minute. The team, led by head coach Nate Miller, took a 2-1 lead into halftime and kept up the pressure in the second half scoring two more courtesy of the 24-year-old forward, who won the USL Championship with Orange County SC in 2021, in the 73rd and 96th minute.
San Diego Loyal sits in third place in the western conference standings with 50 points and has three more games left including one more at home on Oct. 7 against the Oakland Roots. If the season ended today, Loyal would face the sixth-seeded Colorado Switchbacks who they defeated both times this season by a combined 7-0 scoreline.
Photos by San Diego Wave, San Diego Loyal
