After extending her contract with San Diego Wave through 2026, 18-year-old Jaedyn Shaw scored her fifth goal of the season Saturday in a 1-1 draw with Angel City 1-1 in the team’s final match of the NWSL UKG Challenge Cup at Snapdragon Stadium.
In the 11th minute, midfielder Shaw made the unassisted goal after she intercepted the ball from an Angel City defender inside the box and ripped a left-footed shot into the lower left-hand-corner of the net.
It was her eighth professional goal across all competitions.
“I’m of course, really, really happy that I can re-sign here in San Diego,” Shaw said. “It meant the world that I could score [in] like the first game after signing my new contract, and I feel like it was a representation of how much I love this place and how much I really enjoy the fans and the environment here.”
Five minutes after Shaw’s goal, Angel City responded as Scarlett Camberos shot from long range and found the top right corner to level the match.
The match also featured the return of Wave defender Abby Dahlkemper, who made her first appearance in 309 days following a back injury, illness and surgery. She wore the captain’s armband in the first half.
“It felt great,” Dahlkemper said. “I just feel really grateful for the people I have in my life. My teammates, my coaches, the medical staff, the support team around this team, gave me everything that I could ever need to get back on the field, and I feel fit and strong and ready to go and help the team in any way.”
The Wave had a dominant second half, recording eight shots and five on target and holding the majority of possession with 53.4%. Goalkeeper Shae Yáñez made numerous saves in the second half to keep the scoreline level including a crucial save in stoppage time.
Shaw and Makenzy Doniak each nearly scored goals of their own, with Shaw skimming the top of the net, nearly putting the Wave on top in the 39th minute.
In the 53rd minute, a close Doniak shot was parried away for a corner, assisted by Shaw with a through ball.
One minute later, Shaw’s corner found defender Madison Pogarch, whose close-range header was saved. Doniak made another final attempt in stoppage time, but her shot was blocked as well.
Forward Melanie Barcenas made her second-ever start for the club, playing 68 minutes and recording two shots on goal. The 15-year-old local forward is in her rookie season with the Wave after signing as the youngest player in NWSL history.
After the match, Wave coach Casey Stoney said: “I thought it was another really positive step in the right direction … but I’m actually disappointed with the draw to be honest, in terms of our performance, because I thought we deserved a little bit more tonight.”
Of Shaw’s goal, Stoney said: “I thought it was a very good performance, and she’s the future of the club. I think her potential is so high. cWe’ve only just scratched the surface with Jae. I think she’s just getting better and better every week.”
Regarding Dahlkemper’s return, Stoney said she was pleased to have the defender back in the squad and thought Dahlkemper can be very pleased with her 45-minute play.
Stoney recalled Dahlkemper’s back problems, bout with COVID, broken rib and further back injury that required major surgery.
“This could have broke many a player,” the coach said, adding: “I couldn’t be more proud of her. So, yeah, we’re a very, very lucky club that we’ve got her in our squad.”
For her part, Dahlkemper said: “I just truly don’t have enough words to thank the San Diego Wave organization for everything they’ve done for me and the continued belief in me and the support, you know, it just means the world and I’m forever grateful.”
Midfielder Taylor Kornieck was unavailable for the match Saturday after a nose injury last week in a 1-0 loss to OL Reign.
Stoney was fined by the NWSL this week for comments that were “detrimental to the league” — her statements that Kornieck was not protected on the field, according to Just Women’s Sports.
“How hurt does she have to get before someone starts protecting her?” Stoney said after Kornieck suffered two injuries in the July 28 match.
It’s the third time Stoney has been fined by the NWSL this season based on her remarks about player safety.
Saturday’s match ends the Wave competition in the Challenge Cup. The club didn’t qualify for the semifinals.
Asked what benefit the Challenge Cup was for the club, Stoney said it gave coaches an opportunity to experiment with formations and strategies.
The coach said the Wave used the series of matches as a tool to prepare for a World Cup window and give nonstarter players valuable minutes on the pitch.
Also at the post-match press conference, Stoney talked about her family’s ability to live in the U.S. with her. Her family has been living 5,000 miles away because of visa issues.
“It’s been a hard 22 months living without them,” the coach said about her partner and three children. “What I can say is I feel like I can breathe again now, and I think I’m more complete as a person.”
Stoney added: “You don’t ever want to spend 22 months away from your family, and it’s 22 months of their lives I can’t get back. But now it’s about building a life here in San Diego with this club and, you know, we want to make this club the best it can possibly be and give these guys a really good future.”
The Wave head into a bye week before returning home to Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, August 19, to face NJ/NY Gotham FC in the regular season at 7 p.m.
