Tom Krasovic: Wave ride defense once again on road, earning scoreless draw at Louisville

Even without Naomi Girma, the Wave allowed Racing Louisville no goals and earned a draw Saturday night in their first road match of the season.

Girma’s former Stanford teammate Kennedy Wesley filled Girma’s spot for all 90 minutes as the NWSL’s Defender of the Year for 2022 and 2023 sat out with a thigh injury sustained last week with the U.S. Women’s National Team.

“Naomi’s such a big player for us, such a fantastic player overall,” coach Casey Stoney said. “I’m really proud of Kennedy coming in and filling those shoes. She was outstanding.”

“I try to mimic so many things she does,” Wesley said of Girma, with whom she won an NCAA title five years ago.

True to Stoney’s background as former defensive leader for the English national team, the Wave take not only luggage on the road but also a sturdy defense.

They shut out seven opponents in seven cities last year, leading them to the league’s best road mark and the regular-season title.

The Wave allowed no shots on goal in the first half and eked out the tie before an announced crowd of 6,818, matching the 0-0 result last June on the same field.

Kennedy assumed Girma’s central defender spot between two veterans in Abby Dahlkemper and left fullback Kristen McNabb.

“It was a super-physical, chippy game,” said Wesley, who was drafted 12th overall in January.

Furthering the youth movement, 16-year-old midfielder Kimmi Ascanio played the final 14 minutes.

She provided ball control, showing maturity and creativity that led the Wave to sign the Floridian in March.

“I’m really proud of her,” said Stoney, adding that the teen has a lot to learn defensively.

The Wave (1-1-1) underachieved on offense in the first half, failing to score despite having the ball far more often.

In the second half, a better opponent than Louisville (0-0-4) — which has never finished higher than ninth — might have availed itself of the Wave’s loose play and won the match. The Wave looked fatigued to Stoney over the final 45 minutes, in part because several players were coming off international matches.

“We did OK,” she summed up. “I don’t think we were great overall.” She added: “But, it’s a point on the road in a very difficult place to come and a slightly difficult pitch to play on.”

The Wave resume play Friday at Orlando.