San Diego Wave FC suffered a 1-0 defeat against Seattle Reign FC at Lumen Field on Sunday evening, September 7, 2026, after playing with 10 players for the majority of the match. San Diego native Maddie Mercado scored the decisive goal in the 29th minute, while rookie defender Mimi Van Zanten received a 13th-minute red card following a VAR review.
Early Red Card Disrupts San Diego Wave Tactical Shape
The match turned decisively in the opening quarter of an hour. Rookie defender Mimi Van Zanten received a red card in the 13th minute after a VAR review determined she denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by tripping Maddie Dahlien far away from the net during a Seattle transition play. Van Zanten and Kennedy Wesley had formed the last line of defense before the challenge occurred.Faced with an early numerical disadvantage, Wave head coach Jonas Eidevall adjusted his lineup by substituting Brooklyn Courtnall on for skilled forward Melanie Barcenas to shore up the backline. Despite the defensive shuffle, San Diego struggled to contain Seattle’s subsequent offensive pressure during the remainder of the first half.
Maddie Mercado Leads Seattle Reign to Victory
Capitalizing on the extra player advantage, Seattle broke the deadlock in the 29th minute. Sofia Huerta passed to Maddie Dahlien on the left wing, who delivered a precise cross into the center of the box. Mercado met the ball with a header, directing it into the top left corner of the net past Wave defender Perle Morroni’s coverage.The strike marked the 25-year-old forward’s eighth goal of the season and her ninth goal contribution overall in 2026, solidifying her status as Seattle’s leading scorer. Mercado previously played for San Diego Surf Soccer Club and attended Cathedral Catholic High before her collegiate career at the University of Notre Dame. She has now scored in both matches against her hometown team this season.
Goalkeeping Highlights and Second-Half Push
Photo: sports.yahoo.comSeattle maintained its structure through strong defensive performances. Goalkeeper Claudia Dickey logged six saves and secured a clean sheet before exiting late in the match due to an injury, making way for backup goalkeeper Cassie Miller. The win keeps Seattle unbeaten at home since returning from the summer break and lifts the squad into the playoff picture.San Diego generated more offensive momentum after the interval. Wave midfielder and captain Kenza Dali forced a strong save from Dickey with a free kick in the 65th minute, while Ludmila had a close-range shot blocked by the diving goalkeeper in the 81st minute. Wave finished the match holding 59 percent possession and recording four more shot attempts than Seattle, but failed to find an equalizer.
From Instagram — related to seattle reign diego wave, Maddie Mercado Seattle ReignThe result snaps a two-game win streak for San Diego and hands the club its first loss since early August. Wave FC is now tied for third place in the standings alongside the NC Courage and Utah Royals, holding 39 points.San Diego Wave FC returns to Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, September 12, 2026, to face the NC Courage. North Carolina enters the fixture following a 6-0 win over Chicago, led by Ashley Sanchez—who tops the NWSL with 18 goals after a recent hat-trick—and Evelyn Ijeh, who has scored 11 goals this season.
