Match Recap: Byars, Barcenas, and Ludmila Goals Outscore Utah Royals 4-2

San Diego Wave FC returned to Snapdragon Stadium tonight to take on Utah Royals FC for the second of three games in a row at home. The Wave faced even more challenges with their depth tonight, with Gia Corley, Kenza Dali, and Kimmi Ascanio among eight players unavailable.

Laila Harbert, Laurina Fazer, and Lia Godfrey made up the midfield tonight. Harbert's signing was announced less than a month ago, and her early start gave her a chance to meld with the team in a real game setting.

To win the match, the Wave needed to set the tone early, and maintain the pace and confidence throughout the game. Trinity Byars showed up and showed off, with four goal contributions that earned the Wave three points in the NWSL standings.

The First Half

The Wave turned up the heat as soon as the whistle blew. Mimi Van Zanten threw the ball in to Ludmila on the right in the opening moments of the half. Ludmila tore up the right flank, and cut into the box. The crowd began to cheer, but Ludmila ran into two Royals defenders who gladly took the ball back.

Melanie Barcenas passed the ball forward, to Trinity Byars who made a run on the left side. She carried the ball forward and launched a shot at goal, beating goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn at the far post. Byars' goal puts the wave ahead early, setting the tone for the game.

Riding the wave of momentum, Byars' made the same run after a pass from Perle Morroni. This time, the box was more crowded. She passed the ball through to Lia Godfrey, but the timing was off.

The Wave, though experimenting with lineups, found a combination that nearly stopped the Royals from getting into the box. With two defensive midfielders, Laurina Fazer and Laila Harbert, the defense had multiple outlets to pass to when recovering balls from the Royal's attack. The back line could rely on Fazer or Harbert to step in when they were drawn out of position.

The Royals had to adjust. Risking it all for the equalizer, the visitors pressed high, leaving plenty of space for the Wave to run in behind if they re gained the ball. The risk paid off. After stretching back line, the Royals set up Mina Tanaka for a goal. Tanaka launched the ball over Kennedy Wesley and Kristen McNabb, and found the equalizer.

The Wave needed to respond. Ludmila burst forward into the box. Right in front of goal, with only the goalkeeper between her and the back of the net, she was brought to the ground by a hard tackle that the referee believed was not a foul.

Byars went for goal again, this time drawing McGlynn out from between the posts. With the goal unprotected, Byars saw Barcenas running to the center of the box. She passed the ball to Barcenas, who sunk the ball into the back of the net. The Wave lead 2-1.

The half closed and the Wave were in the lead. The teams hurried to the locker room to prepare for the second half.

The Second Half

The Royals, hoping to dig themselves out of a hole, put pressure on early. Just two minutes after the whistle blew, the visitors exploited the Wave's disorganized back line. Tanaka scored her second of the night, leveling the score.

The Wave and the Royals stayed locked up in the midfield. The Royals had more energy, but their attacks were stopped before they got too close to goal. The Wave had similar offensive struggles, with their ideas being intercepted before they could pan out.

Head Coach Jonas Eidevall brought on Jordan Fusco for Laila Harbert. Fusco is more attacking minded, and showed it immediately.

Fusco earned the ball back from the Royals, launched it to Byars. Byars floored it, and broke free from the defense. The ball flew into the back of the net, and the Wave took the lead for the third time tonight.

Trinity Byars was not done. She drifted to the right and picked out Ludmila. Byars crossed the ball into the box, and Ludmila confidently sunk it into the back of the net.

With a two goal lead, Eidevall made more substitutions. He took off Byars, who contributed to all four goals for Adriana Leon, and Morroni for Brooklyn Courtnall. The like-for-like substitutions bring reinforcements in the attack and defense.

Utah thought they found a way to come back, but their goal from a set piece was called offside.

Not long after, the Royals found another goal from a set piece, this time a corner. The cross into the box was knocked in past Sandra Paños. Once again, the referee disallowed the goal due to an offside position.

Eidevall used his final substitution to bring on Gabi Portilho for Barcenas at the 87th minute. The substitution allowed the Wave to run down the clock some and limit the Royals opportunities for scoring.

The referee signaled for 5 minutes of added time. Neither team could find another goal in those minutes.

The game ended, and the Wave earned all three points against Utah Royals, winning the series against them. Trinity Byars scored two and assisted two, and Ludmila earned her long awaited second goal.