Oct 25, 2026 • Snapdragon Stadium
SAN DIEGO — San Diego Wave FC saw its five-game winning streak come to an end on October 25, 2026, settling for a 2-2 draw against Boston Legacy FC in its final home match of the regular season at Snapdragon Stadium. With the NWSL Shield race heating up, San Diego entered the match looking to secure three crucial points and keep pressure on league leaders Gotham FC. Despite creating several scoring opportunities and overcoming a second-half deficit, the Wave could not hold onto its lead, leaving valuable points behind heading into Decision Day.
San Diego controlled much of the opening half, generating dangerous chances through Melanie Barcenas, Trinity Byars, and Kenza Dali. The Wave appeared to break through in the 34th minute when Lia Godfrey finished a rebound following consecutive saves from Boston goalkeeper Laurel Ivory. However, VAR ruled the goal offside, keeping the match scoreless heading into halftime. Boston wasted little time making an impact after the break, as Annie Karich capitalized on a rebound in the 48th minute to give the visitors a surprising 1-0 advantage.
The Wave responded immediately, with Barcenas setting up Gia Corley for a low finish off the inside of the post in the 51st minute to level the match. Just three minutes later, Kenza Dali delivered a dangerous ball across goal that deflected off Boston defender Laís Araújo and into the net, completing San Diego's quick turnaround. With momentum firmly on its side, the Wave looked poised to secure another home victory. However, Boston found an equalizer in the 73rd minute when Alba Caño unleashed a spectacular strike from outside the box into the top-right corner, bringing the match level at 2-2.
San Diego continued pushing forward in search of a late winner but was unable to break through Boston's defense before the final whistle. The draw leaves the Wave on 55 points, three behind Gotham FC with one regular-season match remaining. San Diego will travel to face Bay FC on Decision Day needing a victory and a favorable result in Gotham's matchup against Utah to keep its NWSL Shield hopes alive. While the result was a disappointing conclusion to its home schedule, the Wave remains in contention for the league's top spot with one final opportunity to make its mark.
