A scoreless draw against the Washington Spirit wasn’t the result the San Diego Wave and coach Jonas Eidevall were looking for before the National Women’s Soccer League’s international break. San Diego had multiple opportunities to score a goal in the match, as it controlled possession for 65% of the game and took 11 shots on target. Ultimately, however, San Diego (7-3-3) played to a 0-0 tie on Sunday with the team just behind the Wave in the NWSL standings. “Obviously, we were missing the final touch, final decision today to really capitalize on that,” Eidevall said. “Happy with the performance, a little bit disappointed with the result since I think we were the better team.” There has been some tension between Wave supporters and the referees in the past few matches, and Sunday night was no exception. In the 41st minute, the boos rained down Snapdragon Stadium when forward Delphine Cascarino tried to head the ball into the Spirit’s box. As she did, a Washington defender raised her foot, which missed Cascarino’s head. The referee called a free kick going the other way, and the Wave fans let them have it, feeling it should have been a penalty. “I understand both sides,” Wave goalie Kailen Sheridan said. “I think, though, it’s a dangerous play, and the only reason it wasn’t called is because she didn’t touch her. But if you’re going to put your foot up that high, that’s just dangerous and unnecessary, in my opinion. And again, that’s my opinion. … It’s a frustrating one. Instead, next time, she’s just going to get kicked in the face, I guess.” Sheridan spoke to the head referee while Eidevall was in the fourth official’s ear, but the decision was final. “No comment,” Eidevall said when asked about the non-call. In the second half, Washington gained control of the ball more than the Wave. When Eidevall went to his bench to bring forward Kimmi Ascanio in the 59th minute, however, the intensity changed. The Wave were aggressive offensively, with Ascanio responsible for winning two corner kicks right away for her club. In the 73rd minute, Wave forward María Sánchez walked off the pitch for what could be the final time to cheers from the fans. Sánchez has been linked to Liga MX Femenil’s Tigres, her former team; ESPN reported on Saturday that the move “is a done deal.” Eidevall did not comment on rumors that Sánchez, reportedly the team’s highest-paid player, is leaving. Forward Melanie Barcenas replaced Sánchez and brought some juice to the offense, winning multiple free kicks and a corner kick. In the 77th minute, Lundkvist found Barcenas wide open on the left side. The San Diego native whipped a low cross into the box, which both Adriana Leon and Ascanio narrowly missed. The ball rolled out to midfielder Savannah McCaskill, who fired a shot from outside the box, but Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury made the save. The Wave missed an opportunity to climb to second place in the NWSL standings after Orlando Pride lost 2-0 to Louisville on Friday. They remain in third place with 24 points, one point ahead of fourth-place Washington. “I think it’s been a good start,” Sheridan said of the first half of the season. “I want us to hate losing and love winning and have that drive week in and week out. I know we’re capable of it. I think again, we just need a little bit more time.” Multiple Wave players are headed to the 2025 UEFA Women’s Championship in Switzerland. The Wave won’t be back in action until their Aug. 2 fixture at the North Carolina Courage. “The back half of the season is going to determine who wins the shield, who makes the playoffs,” McCaskill said. “It gets crazy, so we have to just be prepared for it.”