The revamped San Diego Wave will seek their fourth consecutive victory Saturday night, when they face the Portland Thorns in Mission Valley.
A year after struggling to score, the Wave have become the National Women’s Soccer League’s top team in passes attempted, completion percentage and time of possession.
As a result, they’ve doubled their scoring output from last year. Through seven matches, the Wave (4-2-1) are tied for the NWSL lead with 14 goals.
Last year, the Wave needed until Sept. 1 to score their 14th goal of the season. The club scored just 24 goals all year, an average of 0.92 goals per game. Not only did they miss the playoffs, they finished 10th in the 14-team league.
The share-the-ball approach fostered by first-year coach Jonas Eidevall, a Swede who led English women’s club Arsenal to much success, has blossomed into a team strength.
San Diego has scored nine goals in the winning streak, moving itself up the standings.
“We’re playing some really beautiful soccer,” said goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, who has been with the club in all four seasons.
“Things that we’ve been working on for a long period of time are really coming to fruition during the game, which is always great to see.”
Eidevall isn’t the only newcomer who acclimated fast.
Gia Corley, a 22-year-old midfielder/forward from Germany, has two goals in six matches.
Kenza Dali, who also came over from Europe, has rewarded Eidevall’s decision to move her from attacking midfielder/forward to defensive midfielder.
France’s Dali has facilitated the Wave’s much-improved build-up game, a point of emphasis under Eidevall and a welcomed change from earlier years, when the team relied heavily on Sheridan’s long-ball prowess. The 33-year-old also has two assists and a goal.
Texas’ Trinity Armstong is a quick study, too.
The rookie defender, 17, scored the decisive goal last Sunday, heading Dali’s corner kick in stoppage time, leading to the 2-1 victory against Bay FC.
The Thorns (3-2-3) stand in fifth place in the NWSL standings. Their best player, Sophia Wilson (nee Smith), hasn’t played this season. She’s expecting her first child with husband Michael Wilson, an wide receiver for the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.
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