Rookie Maycee Bell’s first career NWSL goal, eight minutes into second-half stoppage time, gave NJ/NY Gotham FC a dramatic 2-1 win over the San Diego Wave on Wednesday in Harrison, N.J.
Gotham made a late push with time winding down, engineered by Crystal Dunn’s run upfield. Jenna Nighswonger made a cross to Bell, who corralled it with an outstretched leg before shooting it past San Diego goalie Kailen Sheridan to the far side of the net.
Gotham (8-2-3, 27 points) won their fifth straight match and extended their unbeaten run to nine in a row. The Wave (3-5-5, 14 points) came up shy of securing their fourth straight draw.
The hosts had 59 percent of the possession and had several good looks early. Sheridan made four saves in the first half-hour and finished with seven for San Diego.
Gotham’s Rose Lavelle scored her third goal of the year three minutes into first-half stoppage time. On an attack, Lavelle had three teammates to pass ahead to, but she was left too much space by herself and unleashed a curling left-footed shot from just past the penalty arc.
San Diego’s Mya Jones, another rookie, scored her first career goal in the 48th minute. NJ/NY goalie Ann-Katrin Berger made a poor pass out of her box and Jones battled a Gotham player to win the ball, which she then tucked behind Berger.
Dunn came close to scoring from the center of the box off a corner kick in the 76th minute. Sheridan went to the ground to make the stop.
–Field Level Media
