SAN DIEGO — Melanie Barcenas' masterpiece goal put San Diego Wave FC ahead at Snapdragon Stadium, but Denver Summit FC responded in the second half via a header to tie the match 1-1. Both teams earned a point Friday night.
San Diego controlled the opening 45 minutes, but things shifted after halftime. Denver changed its strategy, pushing more players toward the attack, while the home team struggled to create enough chances to secure a second goal.
"We should've won the game, there's no doubt about it," Wave head coach Jonas Eidevall said postgame. "We created more, and were the better team, but we didn't win."
He also mentioned that they have a choice: feel sorry for themselves and make excuses, or acknowledge that the team played well while recognizing areas for improvement. The coach feels the match was a "step in the right direction."
San Diego is coming off a two-game road trip, in which they faced two of the top teams in the NWSL: Washington Spirit and Gotham FC. Lia Godfrey scored the game-winning goal in the 60th minute to help weather the storm in Washington . Godfrey has nine goal contributions (five goals and four assists) and is a candidate for Rookie of the Year.
This past Friday, former Wave forward Jaedyn Shaw , who spent three seasons in San Diego, scored just before halftime to keep Gotham in first place with 40 points through 19 matches. Eidevall was disappointed with the result and felt his team underperformed in their last match.
Kimmi Ascanio (Thigh), Kenza Dali (Lower Leg), and Kiki Pickett (Ankle) were unavailable for San Diego tonight. There's still no update on Catarina Macario (Heel). Eidevall said they are facing a tough time on the injury front, and some players are playing out of position.
San Diego will face the expansion side, Denver Summit FC, for the second time this season. They faced off on April 25 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, where the Wave erased a two-goal deficit in the second half . The visiting team scored three goals in 16 minutes, and the go-ahead score was an own goal in the 65th minute.
As of mid-August, Denver is a borderline playoff team with its 6-5-7 record and 23 points. Janine Sonis , a 31-year-old defender, leads the team with eight goals and is tied for the most assists with three. Meanwhile, Yazmeen Ryan, Natasha Flint, and Klara Melissa Kössler each have four goals in 2026. Their goalkeeper, Abby Smith , has 60 saves and four clean sheets in 18 matches.
The Summit is coming off a big road win against Utah Royals FC, the third-best team in the standings, 2-1. Utah equalized in the 89th minute, but Sonis delivered yet again for Denver in the 4th minute of added time to secure the three points. She assisted the first goal as well.
Before the match, San Diego honored longtime defender Kristen McNabb for becoming the first Wave FC player to reach 100 club appearances. McNabb has been with the team since its inception.
There were six shots in the first dozen minutes, with Denver firing off four. Wave goalkeeper Sandra Paños blocked Ally Brazier's attempt, and Smith logged two early saves against Trinity Byars and Melanie Barcenas.
An active start to the match.
The first dangerous attack came in the 27th minute. Ludmila got past the Denver back line on a fast break and was one-on-one with the goalkeeper. She sprinted sideways to get away from Smith, but her shot was wide right—a clear missed opportunity for the Wave.
Ludmila's goal-scoring struggles continue. She has scored just one goal in her first season with the club, despite having 41 shot attempts in 18 matches. The 31-year-old striker scored 10 goals for the Chicago Stars FC last season.
The Sporting Tribune asked Eidevall about Ludmila's recent goal drought. Eidevall said she impacts the team with her runs in behind, pressing, and overall intensity. He expressed his confidence in the striker, stating that "it's only a matter of time" before she scores again.
Barcenas opened the scoring shortly after. The 18-year-old forward continues to flash her skills on the pitch, and she just added another highlight play to her reel. Barcenas made several dribble moves to create space and launched a left-footed shot from outside the box. Her shot entered the bottom right of the net, just past the outstretched arms of the goalkeeper. Gia Corley was credited with the assist.
After the game, Barcenas said that she worked on the specific shot after training yesterday and is happy to see it translate onto the pitch in front of the fans.
This was Barcenas's first goal since July 4th, bringing her total to four goals in 2026. She now has the most goals scored by a teenager in the league this year. The sky is the limit for the young San Diego native, and it's easy to see why she's a fan favorite.
"Mel has some fantastic skills, both with her dribbling and her shooting," Eidevall said when talking about the impressive goal. He added that it's great to see the confidence she plays with.
San Diego controlled most of the offensive momentum in the first half, while the visiting team struggled to create opportunities after a solid start.
About 10 minutes into the second half, Ludmila almost broke free again. The ball deflected past the goalkeeper, but a Summit defender cleared it from inside the box.
Denver tied the match moments later.
Two of the most productive players from the Summit teamed up to score the equalizer in the 58th minute. Sonis crossed a perfectly placed pass into the box, finding Ryan for the header goal. It was a difficult shot for Paños to block. This was Sonis's 12th goal contribution in the season.
Barcenas almost scored another banger a few minutes later, but the ball hit the top crossbar. McNabb had a strong shot inside the box, but Smith denied it. Adriana Leon , a veteran forward, was subbed on for Ludmila.
Leon made her presence felt right away. She received a long pass in the attacking third and scored. The stadium erupted, but the official marked her offside.
Eidevall inserted Laila Harbert, Tatum Wynalda, Gabi Portilho , and Brooklyn Courtnall in the second half, looking to break the tie. Harbert, a 19-year-old English midfielder, signed with the club in late July and made her debut tonight. Same goes for Courtnall.
Four minutes of extra time were added, but neither team can break the tie. Denver had four more shots than San Diego, but the home team held the ball for slightly longer (55-45 split). The attendance at Snapdragon Stadium was 13,463.
When breaking down the second half, Eidevall said that they pushed his team back in their own half, which affected their energy and ability to transition offensively.
San Diego will continue its three-game homestand on Friday, Aug. 21, as they host Utah, another NWSL contender. They are coming off a 3-2 win over Bay FC. Cloé Lacasse and Mina Tanaka have been a dynamic duo, combining for 12 goals and 12 assists this season.
