North Carolina Courage 1-2 San Diego Wave
Updated
San Diego Wave won: North Carolina Courage 1-2 San Diego Wave in the NWSL (Round 25) on Sat, 17 Oct 2026 at First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, North Carolina. North Carolina Courage goals: Vilde Bøe Risa 83'. San Diego Wave goals: Melanie Barcenas 4', Trinity Byars 52'. Expected goals: 1.28-1.99. Possession: 48-52. Player of the match: Melanie Barcenas (8.2).
Match report
San Diego Wave beat North Carolina Courage 2-1
San Diego Wave squeezed past North Carolina Courage 2-1 away from home at First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday 17 October in NWSL.
Melanie Barcenas put San Diego Wave ahead on 4' (0-1), Trinity Byars made it 0-2 on 52' and Vilde Bøe Risa pulled one back for North Carolina Courage on 83' (1-2).
North Carolina Courage had 48% of the ball, shots were 13-15 (4-5 on target) and expected goals finished 1.28-1.99.
Melanie Barcenas (San Diego Wave FC) was player of the match with an 8.2 rating.
Attendance: 10,353. Referee: Brad Jensen.
Match stats
| North Carolina Courage | San Diego Wave | |
|---|---|---|
| Ball possession | 48 | 52 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 1.28 | 1.99 |
| Total shots | 13 | 15 |
| Shots on target | 4 | 5 |
| Touches in opposition box | 24 | 25 |
| Big chances | 3 | 3 |
| Big chances missed | 2 | 2 |
| Accurate passes | 430 (85%) | 489 (86%) |
| Yellow cards | 1 | 1 |
| Corners | 6 | 1 |
| Total shots | 13 | 15 |
| Shots off target | 8 | 7 |
| Shots on target | 4 | 5 |
| Blocked shots | 1 | 3 |
| Hit woodwork | 1 | 1 |
| Shots inside box | 9 | 9 |
Lineups
North Carolina Courage (4-3-3): Kailen Sheridan, Ryan Williams, Natalie Jacobs, Uno Shiragaki, Felicitas Rauch, Riley Jackson, Shinomi Koyama, Erica Parkinson, Gianna Paul, Evelyn Ijeh, Ashley Sanchez
San Diego Wave (4-3-3): Sandra Paños, Amelia Van Zanten, Kennedy Wesley, Kristen McNabb, Perle Morroni, Kenza Dali, Kimmi Ascanio, Gia Corley, Melanie Barcenas, Trinity Byars, Lia Godfrey
Key events
- 4' · Goal · Melanie Barcenas (San Diego Wave)
- 26' · Yellow card · Kennedy Wesley (San Diego Wave)
- 52' · Substitution · Bia Gomes for Gianna Paul (North Carolina Courage)
- 52' · Goal · Trinity Byars (San Diego Wave)
- 60' · Yellow card · Natalie Jacobs (North Carolina Courage)
- 63' · Substitution · Laurina Fazer for Lia Godfrey (San Diego Wave)
- 63' · Substitution · Ludmila da Silva for Trinity Byars (San Diego Wave)
- 71' · Substitution · Vilde Bøe Risa for Evelyn Ijeh (North Carolina Courage)
- 71' · Substitution · Ella Hase for Felicitas Rauch (North Carolina Courage)
- 79' · Substitution · Barbara Bonansea for Melanie Barcenas (San Diego Wave)
- 80' · Substitution · Laila Harbert for Kimmi Ascanio (San Diego Wave)
- 83' · Goal · Vilde Bøe Risa (North Carolina Courage)
- 85' · Substitution · Carly Wickenheiser for Natalie Jacobs (North Carolina Courage)
- 85' · Substitution · Hannah Betfort for Erica Parkinson (North Carolina Courage)
- 85' · Substitution · Brooklyn Courtnall for Gia Corley (San Diego Wave)
All-time head-to-head
North Carolina Courage vs San Diego Wave: full head-to-head record
Questions
Who won North Carolina Courage vs San Diego Wave?
San Diego Wave won, 1-2 (NWSL) on Sat, 17 Oct 2026.
When and where is North Carolina Courage vs San Diego Wave?
Sat, 17 Oct 2026, 23:00 UTC at First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, North Carolina, NWSL.