San Diego Wave tie Water war 2-2

Trinity Byars smiles after nudging in the equalizing goal against the Kansas City Current in the 90th minute. (Photo credit: San Diego Wave FC)

San Diego Wave FC played the sixth place Kansas City Current to a 2-2 draw on Friday night thanks to late game heroics in the 90th minute. 

The Wave featured an updated lineup compared to their last match which they lost starting Laurina Fazer and Trinity Byars instead of Melanie Barcenas and Gabi Portilho. 

Byars has been crucial to the Wave’s success with four goals so far in 2026 despite only starting one match. The 23-year-old forward earned played the full match and earned a brace with an early goal and late goal. 

The Wave struck first in the seventh minute while pressing high, Kim Ascanio stole the ball from Kansas City and passed it down left channel to Gia Corley. Corley was defended wel, but she managed to place a pass to the center of the box for Byars to kick in easily to make it 1-0.  

The Wave maintained control the rest of the first half and absorbed Kansas City’s counter opportunities well. 

Then the second half began and Kansas City came out strong with very postive momentum leading to a goal by Croix Bethune in the 52nd minute.

The Current were pressing high and passing the ball with ease into the Wave’s final third. Then both Perle Morroni and Ludmila failed to clear the ball close to the goal allowing a Current player to steal the ball away and sent a cross to Croix Bethune in the middle of the box.  

Bethune shot the cross with a full volley that bounced once then past the goalkeeper to make it 1-1. 

The Current pressure did not fade and they kept pushing for another goal, but the Wave managed to bring the ball into the Current half around the 60th minute. Though they had to worry about one of the best strikers in the NWSL, Temwa Chawinga.

 The striker got a long pass from Bethune in the midfield, and Chawinga used her speed to get past the Wave backline. San Diego’s captain, Kennedy Wesley did her best to stop Chawinga, but she had a moment inside the box and got the ball past Agudelo to make it 2-1.

It seemed the Current may hold on to the victory at home, but the Wave did not relent and scored an equalizer in the 90th minute. 

During a chaotic moment in the Kansas City penalty area Kristen McNabb took a good shot on target that the goalkeeper slightly mistimed which stopped the ball from going in, but allowed it to roll toward the back of the net.  

Izzy Rodriguez stopped the ball from crossing the line, but Byars crashed the back post and nudged it in to equalize the game at 2-2. 

The Wave nearly scored another in stoppage time with the last play of the game, with a strong shot by Kim Ascanio, but the goalkeeper saved it. 

The Wave play their next match at home on Sunday, July 26, against the Seattle Reign.