Match Recap: Melanie Barcenas scores, Wave tie 1-1 with Denver Summit

San Diego Wave FC returned to Snapdragon Stadium tonight to take on Denver Summit FC for the start of three games in a row at home. Last time against Denver, the Wave came back from a 2-0 deficit in Colorado to earn three points. Tonight, the Wave needed to control the midfield and press high into their final third.

The Wave faced challenges with their depth tonight, with seven players unavailable due to injury, including Kenza Dali and Kimmi Ascanio. Gia Corley played deeper in the midfield during the first half, and Trinity Byars played on the wing instead of centrally.

Despite these challenges, the Wave came away with a point and with the building blocks to grow for the final third of the NWSL season.

First Half

Ludmila turned up the heat as soon as the whistle blew. She passed the ball wide to Trinity Byars. Byars gave the ball to Lia Godfrey, who crossed the ball into the box. The resulting shot led to an early corner for the Wave. Summit goalkeeper Abby Smith snatched the cross out of the air, but the pressure the Wave demonstrated in the opening minutes of the game are promising.

Gia Corley and Melanie Barcenas worked the ball up the right side of the field with overlapping passes. Byars and Godfrey did the same on the left. With Denver's defense stretched by the activity on the flanks, Ludmila had space centrally to make runs and receive service.

Trinity Byars and Melanie Barcenas took off on counterattack. Barcenas ran from the right side to the top of the box, and Byars set her up perfectly to take a shot on target that forced a save from Smith.

The match paused due to an injury, and Denver Summit defender Eva Gaetino was replaced by Megan Reid. Gaetino made her way off the pitch and the game restarted.

Lia Godfrey intercepted a pass from Denver. She passed the ball through the visitor's defense to Melanie Barcenas. Mel B carried the ball to the box, but collided with an opponent just outside. The referee called a foul in the Summit's favor, and the fans in attendance made their difference in opinion known.

The Wave pressed on. Captain Kennedy Wesley launched a curling pass over the Summit to Mimi Van Zanten, who sprinted down the field. Gia Corley tipped the ball to Ludmila, who went 1-v-1 with the goalkeeper. Ludmila kept the ball too long and lost a good angle on goal, so her shot went wide.

Melanie Barcenas took matters into her own hands, taking on three defenders at the top of the box after receiving a pass form Corley. After nearly breaking their ankles, Barcenas shot toward goal and beat Abby Smith, whose vision was screened by her own defense.

Mel B's goal gave the Wave the lead they hoped for in the first half.

Lia Godfrey hoped to double the lead. She received a pass as she made a central run, and she quickly shot a curved ball toward goal. The ball didn't bend enough to beat the keeper, but the offensive pressure from the Wave disrupted the Summit's attack enough to maintain the score line into half time.

The Second Half

The Wave pressed high into their final third as soon as the second half opened. Full backs Mimi Van Zanten and Perle Morroni moved in line with the attack, and defensive midfielder Laurina Fazer supported the center backs.

Ludmila played aggressively, challenging the goalkeeper for the ball. She broke loose of the defense, dueled the goalkeeper, and nearly earned the ball back in front of an open net.

Though Denver struggled in the beginning of the half to string together a meaningful attack, they found open space on a counter. Janine Sonis crossed the ball and found the head of Yazmeen Ryan, who scored.

With the score level again, the Wave needed a goal. Godfrey ran the ball up the pitch, passing to Van Zanten who gave it to Mel B. Barcenas launched a banger that ricocheted off the cross bar.

Ludmila tried to recycle the rebound, but after a collision with a Summit player, the referee called another foul in their favor. Once again, the fans voiced their opinion.

Head coach Jonas Eidevall brought Canadian striker Adriana Leon on for Ludmila. Leon, who suffered a back injury that sidelined her in the early part of the season, was still missing her first goal of 2026.

Leon thought she found it. After sneaking behind the defense, she took off by herself toward goal. She launched the ball, hit the back of the net, but the referee raised her arm indicating the goal was disallowed due to offside.

The fans requested VAR take a look, but the decision stood.

Eidevall brought on Laila Harbert for Fazer, Gabi Portilho for Byars, and Tatum Wynalda for Barcenas.

With fresh legs, the Wave tried to take off again. This time, Denver and San Diego were deadlocked in the midfield, limiting each others progression in either direction. Denver had a slight advantage, and used that momentum to push forward into their third.

Brooklyn Courtnall came on for Morroni, who was on the receiving end of multiple hard collisions tonight.

Wave earned a late corner, taken by Tatum Wynalda, but the ball was punched out of the air by the keeper.

The referee added four minutes, but the Wave couldn't find the winning goal. They walked away with one point, and the building blocks they needed to continue growing.