Wave hope final regular-season home match will be a springboard to productive playoffs

The San Diego Wave will return to Snapdragon Stadium on Sunday afternoon for their final home match of the regular season.

However, this won’t be their last home appearance of the year.

Following their 2-1 victory over the North Carolina Courage last Saturday, the Wave has secured a home playoff quarterfinal, offering their fans at least one more chance to see them at Snapdragon Stadium.

“We’re enjoying this time of the season,” said Wave coach Jonas Eidevall. “I’m pleased with where we are right now. But, of course, we must keep pushing forward.”

San Diego heads into Saturday’s match against the expansion Boston Legacy having won five straight games and seven of their last eight. They sit in second place in the NWSL standings, just one point behind first-place Gotham FC.

The Wave (17-8-3) has the opportunity to clinch the NWSL Shield, awarded each year to the team with the best regular-season record, but they must win their final two matches and hope Gotham drops points in at least one of their remaining games.

“Starting now, every game is like a final for us,” midfielder Kimmi Ascanio stated. “We need to do everything we can to earn the points needed for that extra home playoff game or even make a run for the Shield. So, every match from here on out is crucial, and we’ll play as if it’s a final.”

A win on Sunday, along with a draw or loss for the Washington Spirit against the Kansas City Current, would allow San Diego to secure a top-two finish and ensure home-field advantage for both the quarterfinal and semifinals. The championship match will take place at Audi Field in Washington, a neutral site.

While there are many scenarios in play, the Wave’s focus remains clear: take care of business against Boston.

“The margins are very tight in this league,” Eidevall noted.

San Diego’s resurgence began on August 21 with a 4-2 win over the Utah Royals. Since then, they have gone 7-0-1.

Eidevall mentioned that the Wave maintained their approach throughout the season while recently enhancing their efficiency.

“We knew we had to work on our efficiency…but we also needed to protect the other aspects of our game to avoid drastic changes, which could lead to failure,” Eidevall explained. “I think where teams often err is in overhauling their strategy when they don’t get the desired outcome.”

“We could pinpoint what we needed to improve, while also focusing on the other aspects of our game. I believe that’s what we’ve achieved.”

Eidevall has made the right adjustments during the winning streak. Forwards Trinity Byars and Melanie Barcenas provided the goals in last Saturday’s win against North Carolina. Barcenas’ goal in the fourth minute marked her seventh of the season, the most ever for a teenager in the NWSL.

“I’ve never seen anyone exhibit as much confidence and flair as she does,” Ascanio praised. “I’m genuinely happy and excited for her. You all haven’t even seen her full potential yet, so we’re thrilled to watch her continue to excel.”

The Wave is set to face a Boston team that has a record of 9-14-5 but is currently on a two-game winning streak of its own. The Legacy’s Amanda Gutierres and Aïssata Traoré have combined for 20 goals this season. Eidevall is aware that his team must be ready to face one of the league’s most aggressive squads.

“If we’re the team with the highest passing rate from our center backs and the most entries into the opposing penalty area, then they’re the team with the most fouls in the league. That’s a fact,” Eidevall said.

“We know we’re going up against a very aggressive team, and they’ll likely foul us more than other teams. We just need to mentally prepare for that and focus on what we can control.”

With another home match approaching, the players are hopeful Snapdragon Stadium will provide the same energy that has contributed to their recent successes.

“We really need our fans there, and we know that playing at home increases our chances of winning,” Ascanio said. “We’re going to do everything we can to put ourselves in the best position possible.”