NWSL: San Diego Wave FC Defeats Utah Royals 2-1 in First Road Match of 2026 Season
- Staff Writer
- Mar 23
- 2 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
SANDY, Utah — San Diego Wave FC secured their first victory of the 2026 NWSL campaign on Sunday night, defeating the Utah Royals 2-1 at America First Field. In a match defined by historic milestones and a late red card, rookie midfielder Lia Godfrey emerged as the hero, scoring her first professional goal in the 87th minute to silence the home crowd.
The win provides a crucial spark for the Wave (1-1-0) following an opening-week loss, while the Royals (0-2-0) remain winless in their return to the Wasatch Front.
"Getting that first win on the road is always a massive hurdle to clear," the club noted. "Lia [Godfrey] showed incredible composure for a young player to find that corner in such a high-pressure moment."
Early Pressure and Slovenian History
San Diego dictated the tempo early, finding the breakthrough in the 18th minute. Brazilian forward Dudinha—who led the club’s attack last season—capitalized on a defensive miscommunication in the Utah backline. Intercepting a misplaced pass, Dudinha clinicaly finished to record the Wave’s first goal of 2026.
Utah struggled to find their rhythm for much of the first half but responded with resilience after the break. In the 67th minute, the Royals leveled the score through Lara Prašnikar. After a cross from Kameron Simmonds was volleyed back into the mixer by Cloé Lacasse, Prašnikar’s deflected effort found the net, making her the first Slovenian player in NWSL history to score a goal.
The Turning Point
The match shifted decisively in the 82nd minute when Utah defender Tatumn Milazzo was shown her second yellow card for a rough foul, leaving the Royals a player down for the final ten minutes.
San Diego wasted little time exploiting the advantage. In the 87th minute, Kimmi Ascanio drove through the center of the pitch before laying the ball off to Kenza Dali. Dali’s perfectly weighted, first-time through ball found Lia Godfrey, who took a composed touch and slotted the ball into the far corner to secure the 2-1 victory.
The match also marked a personal milestone for goalkeeper Leah Freeman, who made her professional and NWSL debut, recording two saves to preserve the win.
Looking Ahead: Home Stand at Snapdragon
The Wave now return to San Diego for a dense stretch of home fixtures at Snapdragon Stadium. They will host rival Portland Thorns FC this Wednesday, March 25, in a nationally televised clash on CBS Sports Network, followed by a Saturday meeting with the Chicago Stars FC.
Match Statistics:
Stat | Utah Royals | San Diego Wave |
Possession | 53% | 47% |
Shots (on Goal) | 7 (3) | 15 (6) |
Fouls | 15 | 6 |
Saves | 4 | 2 |
Scoring Summary:
SD: Dudinha — 18'
UTA: Lara Prašnikar (Palacios) — 67'
SD: Lia Godfrey (Dali) — 87'
San Diego Lineup: Freeman; Morroni, McNabb, Wesley, Van Zanten (Pickett 70'); Dali, Corley (Godfrey 60'), Fazer; Dudinha, Ludmila, Portilho (Ascanio 60')
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