Adriana Leon scored two goals and the San Diego Wave extended their unbeaten streak to six games with a 5-2 victory on Sunday over the visiting North Carolina Courage.
Perle Morroni, Kristen McNabb and Maria Sanchez also scored goals as the Wave (6-2-2, 20 points) moved into sole possession of second place. Kailen Sheridan made two saves for San Diego.
Feli Rauch and Manaka Matsukubo each scored a goal for the Courage (3-4-3, 12 points), who saw their four-game unbeaten streak come to an end. Casey Murphy made two saves for North Carolina.
McNabb scored from just inside the right post in the 54th minute to give San Diego the lead for good at 3-2 after Trinity Armstrong sent a looping header to the right post.
Leon’s second score of the game, for a 4-2 lead, came in the 60th minute from the top of the penalty area just as she absorbed a collision with Murphy. Sanchez added a goal in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time.
The Courage opened by taking a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute when Matsukubo delivered a cross from the right side to Rauch, who scored on a diving header.
The Wave pulled even in the 25th minute when Delphine Cascarino sent a cross through traffic with Morroni scoring her first NWSL goal from just inside the penalty spot.
San Diego took a 2-1 in the 40th minute when Gia Corley forced a turnover just outside the North Carolina penalty area and Leon pounced on the loose ball to score from 10 yards.
The Courage tied it 2-2 in the 51st minute when Matsukubo fired a left-footed shot from inside the penalty into traffic and pounced on the rebound to score with her right foot. –Field Level Media
