Wave overwhelm Bay FC, climb to second in NWSL standings

Kimmi Ascanio and Kenza Dali scored goals within 11 minutes of each other, and the San Diego Wave held on to beat Bay FC 2-1 on Saturday night at PayPal Park in San Jose.

The win, San Diego’s first since June 13, improved the Wave to 8-3-5 – good for second place in the 14-team National Women’s Soccer League. Bay FC falls to 4-7-5.

Saturday marked the first time since that June match that the Wave had scored more than one goal in a game.

Ascanio, a 17-year-old who makes up one-third of the Wave’s young core, opened scoring in the 52nd minute. She took Perle Morroni’s pass and found the bottom-right corner of the goal to get the Wave on the board. Dali’s goal in the 63rd minute made it a two-goal lead.

Bay FC’s Caroline Conti converted a penalty kick in the 75th minute, but the home team could get no closer. Kailen Sheridan and the Wave’s defense kept Bay FC off the board for the final 15 minutes of regulation and nearly 10 minutes of stoppage time to earn the victory.

The Wave outshot Bay FC 12-9, and had more shots on goal (seven) than their Northern California foe (four). Sheridan finished with three saves, spoiling the night for most of the 11,484 fans in attendance.

The Wave return home next Sunday to take on Racing Louisville at Snapdragon Stadium. The match starts at 5 p.m.

Notable

Defender Abby Dahlkemper, traded by the Wave to Bay FC nearly a year ago after she requested to play for her hometown team, did not play in Saturday night’s match. She has appeared in 13 matches this season.