Match Recap: Gotham FC Keeps Unbeaten Streak Alive in 2-1 Win against San Diego

Rookie Maycee Bell scores game-winning goal at the death 

HARRISON, NJ – On Wednesday, NJ/NY Gotham FC extended its unbeaten streak to nine games after defeating the San Diego Wave FC 2-1 at Red Bull Arena. The unbeaten streak ties the club record, and the club is one game short of tying its win-streak record. 

Gotham FC immediately came out firing, with the club’s first three of four shots of the game on goal. In the 16th minute of the match, Gotham FC midfielder Rose Lavelle stepped in between a pass and her touch fell to forward Katie Stengel, who gained possession and played back to Lavelle. The midfielder found Stengel in open space in the box, where she fired off a shot. However, San Diego goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan saved the attempt. 

Just moments later, Gotham FC showed its defensive strength. In her first start of the season, Gotham FC defender Taryn Torres tracked back to the box and came up with a crucial sliding tackle to deny San Diego forward Mya Jones’ shot. 

Gotham FC found the back of the net first in stoppage time of the first half. Stengel forced a turnover in San Diego’s half and played the ball to Lavelle, who picked up the ball and drove toward goal. Then, from about 20-yards out, the Cincinnati native lined up for a left-footed shot that curled past Sheridan’s reach and into goal.

In the first half, Gotham FC dominated the possession battle (61%-39%), shots on goal (6-0), and completed passes (248-135). The club now leads the league in holding the opposition scoreless at the half in ten of 13 games this season.  

Just one minute into the second half, San Diego equalized. Wave forward Mya Jones intercepted a Gotham FC pass in the opposing half and struck the ball past Gotham FC goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger to bring the score even. 

Gotham FC continued to push forward in search of another goal, with multiple opportunities in the second half. The game winner eventually came with just moments left in stoppage time. Nighswonger gathered the ball on the far flank and played a pinpoint cross towards defender Maycee Bell at the back post. The rookie took an impressive touch around her defender, and struck the ball past Sheridan to secure the 2-1 win. 

Gotham FC will return home to Red Bull Arena to host the Washington Spirit on Sunday, June 23, with kickoff set for 1:30 pm ET (ESPN).

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POSTGAME ASSETS 

Key Match Notes

• Gotham FC tied the club record, set between September 4, 2021 and May 1, 2022, with its ninth straight regular season match without a loss. The club is 7-0-2 during this run.
• Gotham FC won its fifth match in a row, one short of the club mark of six set between July 31, 2014 and April 12, 2015.
• Gotham FC’s first-half passing percentage was 86.7%, third-best in club history for a first half.
• Gotham FC held San Diego to three shots, one on goal, and seven touches in the 18-yard box.
• Defender Maycee Bell scored her first career goal in the 98th minute to win the game.
• Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger extended her club-record unbeaten streak for a goalkeeper to nine matches and picked up her seventh win, tied with Kailen Sheridan in 2017 for the third-most in a single season in club history.
• Defender Mandy Freeman appeared in her 83rd regular season match, moving her into fifth place in club history.
• Midfielder Rose Lavelle scored her third goal of the season, all at home. The three goals are the second-highest total of her career for a season. Lavelle scored 5 for Seattle in 2022.
• Defender Jenna Nighswonger picked up her third assist of the campaign on Bell’s game-winner.
• Forward Katie Stengel passed out her first NWSL regular season assist since October 12, 2019 on Lavelle’s goal.
• Midfielder Taryn Torres made her first start since September 24, 2022.

POSTGAME QUOTES
Gotham FC defender Taryn Torres 
On getting her first start of the season tonight…
It definitely felt amazing to get back out there and do what I love to do. It’s been a little bit over a year, and just to compete on this amazing team and be back on the field, it was the best feeling. 

On Gotham FC’s nine game unbeaten streak…
It’s awesome, going from my rookie year we were last place and then last year champions. Now, on this winning streak I think it’s a great place to be in but also looking at the next game again, to go again and continue that because this league is crazy.

Gotham FC forward Maycee Bell
On scoring the game-winning goal…
Honestly it was a surreal moment. I’m glad God blessed me with some long legs for that first touch. I’ve just been trying to work really hard and it was great to finally get that outcome. 

On playing on a deep Gotham FC roster…
I just try to not take any moment for granted. I’m surrounded by amazing players, a team pretty much full of starters. So, to have that quality of players around me pushes me to be better and obviously we’re doing good as a team as well. 

Gotham FC Head Coach Juan Carlos Amorós
On Rose Lavelle’s first goal and overall performance…
I think it was a special moment for her. She’s super demanding with herself so making those shots is very important. She scored an absolute world class goal, she’s a world class player and person. So it was really important to give us that confidence going into the half. 

On the team’s unbeaten streak…
I think it is a mix of factors. I think we work in a great football club. From the top, it is building something special – facilitating people to do their jobs – from ownership to managerial. It is our role as a staff to help the players on the pitch. They are the main characters – I think everyone that steps on the pitch. We can see now how it really doesn’t matter who is there. We spoke about that at the beginning of the season. We have to have everyone ready, everyone prepared…Everyone stepped on that pitch to make sure Gotham was the winner. 

MATCH SUMMARY
Gotham FC vs San Diego Wave
June 19, 2024 – Red Bull Area

Goals by Half        1      2      F
San Diego Wave     0     1      1
Gotham FC             1      1      2

Scoring Summary:
GFC: Rose Lavelle (Katie Stengel) 45+3′, Maycee Bell (Jenna Nighswonger) 90+7′
SD: Mya Jones 48′ 

Misconduct Summary:
GFC: YC: Sam Hiatt (63′), Mandy Freeman (79′), Yazmeen Ryan (90+12′)
SD: Kaitlyn Torpey (90+5′)

Lineups:
GFC: Ann-Katrin Berger, Sam Hiatt, Taryn Torres (Mandy Freeman 72′), Emily Sonnett, Bruninha (Maycee Bell 84′), Yazmeen Ryan, Delanie Sheehan (Nealy Martin 45′), Katie Stengel (Jenna Nighswonger 60′), Rose Lavelle (McCall Zerboni 60′), Crystal Dunn, Maitane 

SD: Kailen Sheridan, Kristen McNabb, Naomi Girma, Abby Dahlkemper, Hanna Lundkvist, Emily van Egmond, Danielle Colaprico (Savannah McCaskill 45′), María Sánchez (Makenzy Doniak 45′), Jaedyn Shaw (Sofia Jakobsson 78′), Mya Jones (Kaitlyn Torpey 72′), Kyra Carusa (Alex Morgan 45′)