Wave strike early, hold off Royals to end 12-match winless streak

Delphine Cascarino made her presence known early Saturday night as the San Diego Wave defeated the Utah Royals 2-1 in Sandy, Utah.

San Diego (4-9-7, 19 points) didn't have any sort of hangover from Alex Morgan's final match last Sunday. The Wave got on the scoreboard in just 27 seconds, the quickest goal in club history, and fourth-fastest in NWSL history, with Delphine Cascarino then creating her first goal in her fourth appearance with the Wave.

Cascarino ran down the right wing, fought off the Utah (4-13-3, 15 points) defense and sent in a quick cross that hit off the thigh of Amirah Ali, who made a reaction play to send the ball into the back of the net.

Then, five minutes later, Cascarino followed up her first San Diego assist with her first goal when Makenzy Doniak sent a cross that got through two Utah defenders and Cascarino hit the shot in stride, putting Utah up two goals in the first six minutes.

The Royals couldn't break through the San Diego defense until the 59th minute, when Cloe Lacasse, the Canadian international and former Arsenal striker, received a pass after a San Diego turnover in their defensive half. Lacasse received a pass a yard outside of the 18-yard box and sent a left-footed shot across her body and past a diving Hillary Beall to cut the deficit in half.

San Diego's victory ends a 12-match winless streak for the Wave. The last time the team won was May 8, coincidentally against the Utah Royals. It's also San Diego's first win on the road in the 2024 regular season.

--Field Level Media