It could not have been a better debut at the Snapdragon Stadium for the San Diego Wave.
In front of a sell-out crowd of over 32,000 fans, the Wave hosted Angel City FC in their first game in Snapdragon, and it concluded the best way possible. Victory.
The match wasn't just special because of the 1-0 victory with a goal from Jaedyn Shaw in the 30th minute, but because of the record-breaking attendance record in this historic NWSL match.
Casey Stoney, San Diego Wave FC Head Coach, says she's pleased to be part of such a momentous occasion for this club in their first season as an expansion franchise.
“It feels incredible to win for our fans, and as someone who has been involved in this game for 30 years, I’ve waited for this moment. To be able to do this without another crest, like in England how we rely on Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool to gain big crowds, but this is San Diego Wave, eight months into existence and to pull a crowd like this, it just shows what San Diego is as a community, and we want to keep them coming back because the potential for this team and community to keep growing is huge. This was such a momentous occasion for women’s soccer and I’m just so pleased to be a part of it.”
Wave FC goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan stopped a penalty in last night's match, continuing her impressive season so far for club and country(Canada).
San Diego Wave FC head coach Casey Stoney says that she's the best goalkeeper in the game at this moment, being the type of goalkeeper that rises to the occasion as she did Saturday night.
“She’s the world’s best for me (Sheridan). I’ve played with so many goalkeepers over the years, and they could either keep the ball out of the back of the net or they were incredible with their feet but very rarely do you get both with a female goalkeeper, and she is absolutely one of those. She stepped up tonight and she’ll say that’s what she’s there for, but she revels in those big moments.”
The Wave will be traveling to the East Coast this week, as they prepare to face the Orlando Pride next Sunday in Florida.
