San Diego, CA

Tom Krasovic: A San Diego teenager provides hope for crashing Wave

Published

2 years ago

July 6, 2024

Press Room

Tom Krasovic: A San Diego teenager provides hope for crashing Wave

For the struggling San Diego Wave FC, a teenager represents hope.

Melanie Barcenas has magic feet, as verified by her last two matches since returning from a hip injury.

The 16-year-old’s exciting trap-and-shot late in Friday’s match wasn’t enough to end the Wave’s struggles. The goalkeeper knocked away the high-speed shot, and the Portland Thorns broke through for a goal in the 84th minute, leading to the visiting Wave’s 1-0 defeat before an announced crowd of 18,011.

But talent is talent.

It’s clear Barcenas, a Clairemont-area native and former San Diego Surf star, has it.

“Oh, she’s so exciting,” Wave interim coach Paul Buckle said. “It’s not easy coming off the bench for any professional player, but she’s made it look pretty easy.”

Wave defender Hanna Lundkvist says this of Barcenas: “She’s brave and she’s got techniques.”

The Wave are desperate for scoring punch. Look for Barcenas to get more chances beginning Aug. 24, when the National Women’s Soccer League’s regular season resumes following the Paris Olympics.

Plagued by imprecision and disconnection, the 10th-place Wave (3-7-6) have been shut out in their past three-and-half games — including both matches since team president Jill Ellis fired coach Casey Stoney, the defense-first head coach.

Chicago Red Stars’ Ally Cook (33) and San Diego Wave FC’s Melanie Barcenas (25) battle for control of the ball. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Of course, a teen can’t be expected to come to the rescue.

The burden to turn around the offense begins with several veterans, including three accomplished NWSL scorers who are without a goal this season: forwards Alex Morgan, 35, and Maria Sanchez, 28, and midfielder Savannah McCaskill, 27.

Morgan’s drought, which spans 10 matches, appeared to end late in Friday’s first half when she tapped in a loose ball.

Then came a signal from the referee: Morgan was offside.

“That’s how it’s going for us,” said Buckle, who disagreed with the call.

Deep into her second season, Barcenas has shown she might provide a spark during the upcoming 10-game stretch that ends in early November.

She entered in the second half, just as she did in a 3-0 loss a week earlier.

Nearly decking the Thorns, she unloaded perhaps the most powerful shot any opponent has faced in the Wave’s past three matches.

The sequence began when Barcenas, a 5-foot-4 midfielder working at left wing after replacing Sánchez, tamed McCaskill’s smart crossing pass into the box with a perfect first touch. Eluding a defender, Barcenas pivoted and clubbed the bounding ball with her right foot.

Goalkeeper Shelby Hogan, on the way to her seventh shutout this season, punched the laser over the bar.

“Incredible save,” said Buckle.

Two minutes after the fans exhaled, the Thorns had them roaring.

It began with Thorns midfielder Hina Sugita stealing goalkeeper’s Kailen Sheridan’s ill-advised pass by ambushing Wave defender Kristen McNabb near the center stripe.

The sequence ended with 22-year-old Izzy D’Aquila’s one-touch goal from 4 yards, off a crossing pass from Janine Beckie, who saw D’Aquila dart past defenders Abby Dahlkemper and Lundkvist.

The final whistle sent the Wave on a glum, too familiar walk off the pitch.

They’re winless in their nine road matches, a year after winning six road games to record the league’s best away record.

Scoreless in the 300-plus minutes since rookie Mya Jones’ goal at NJ/NY Gotham FC on June 19, winless in the nine matches since they beat last-place Utah on May 8 in Mission Valley, the Wave now will try to regroup.

The layoff and exhibition matches will allow them to work on the finer points of the transition from a defense-first team to one that, in Ellis’ phrase, is “built on attacking.”

Such an overhaul takes more than two weeks.

“We have to keep believing because we did so many things right,” Buckle said. ‘We were brave again. But, we’re just not getting anything for our troubles right now. We were brave with the ball. I’d be nitpicking if I said anything different.

“I’m just desperately disappointed for the players. I said that to them, ‘Football can be cruel sometimes’. But, if we keep playing like we’re playing, it will turn. It will turn for us.”

In pursuit of a playoff bid, NWSL teams are permitted more lives than a cat. Eight of the 14 clubs get in.

Every soccer expert agrees the Wave have more talent – especially on defense led by Naomi Girma – than a handful of fellow stragglers.

All it may take is a two or three wins and a few ties. Six of the 10 matches will come in Mission Valley. Rest will be abundant, and several upcoming opponents lack game-changing firepower.

But it will take more scoring from a Wave team that shows 12 goals in 16 matches.

The Wave know the stakes. They stand as the NWSL’s most disappointing team, given they won the league title last year and were picked first or second by the soccer media and oddsmakers entering this year.

“There’s nothing to say,” said Lundkvist, who was in Sweden last season. “We have to keep going and just keep pushing.”

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San Diego, CA

How to watch San Diego State vs. UNLV basketball game

Published

9 hours ago

March 6, 2026

Press Room

How to watch San Diego State vs. UNLV basketball game

Remarkably, the San Diego State Aztecs can still win a share of the Mountain West title despite losing four of their last five games.

SDSU (19-10, 13-6) needs to beat UNLV (16-14, 11-8) on Friday night in its home finale and then have New Mexico win at Utah State on Saturday for a three-way tie.

The Aztecs had their destiny in their hands less than a week ago, but then lost at New Mexico (13-6) on Saturday and then again at Boise State on Tuesday night, pretty much snuffing out their NCAA Tournament at-large bid chances and apparently ending their hopes at the MW title in their final season in the conference.

But then Utah State (14-5) was routed at UNLV and New Mexico lost at home to Nevada, setting up the possibility of a three-way tie. It’ll be moot, however, if the Aggies beat the Lobos, which will give them the title outright and the No. 1 seed in next week’s conference tournament in Las Vegas.

That’s life in the MW, which the Aztecs and Aggies are leaving after this season to join the new-look Pac-12, along with Boise State, Fresno State and Colorado State.

The big picture

The Aztecs were voted the unanimous preseason favorite to win the regular-season title, based on a loaded roster under coach Brian Dutcher, including the return of Miles Byrd and Magoon Gwath after pulling out of the NBA Draft, and Reese Dixon-Waters after missing last year with a foot injury.

But it’s been a rough go from almost the start, when a rough showing in the non-conference schedule put them on the bubble for an at-large NCAA Tournament berth.

They started to find themselves early in league play by running off a seven-game losing streak, but then lost consecutive games at Grand Canyon and Utah State. Their current skid includes a surprising home loss to Grand Canyon and then a startling road loss to Colorado State.

They routed Utah State at home last week before losing at New Mexico on Saturday and then being routed at Boise State on Tuesday night, when they were outrebounded 37-15.

The last three games were all Quad 1 opportunities in the NCAA NET Rankings, but going 1-2 in those games further hurt their already weak chances at an at-large tourney berth. Those rankings are used by the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee as the primary sorting tool for selection and seeding for March Madness.

Now they’ll almost certainly have to win three games in three days at the MW tournament to claim the automatic bid to reach March Madness for the sixth straight year.

Key facts

The Aztecs will be facing UNLV for the final time in the regular season, as the Runnin’ Rebels will be remaining behind in the MW.

The teams will meet for the 86th time overall, with the Aztecs leading the series 45-40. SDSU is 21-14 against the Runnin’ Rebels in San Diego and 18-8 on Steve Fisher Court.

Below is a look at how to watch UNLV at San Diego State

How to watch UNLV at San Diego State

Date: Friday, March 6

Game time: 7 p.m. PT

Where: Viejas Arena | San Diego

How to watch: CBS Sports Network

How to listen: San Diego Sports 760 (local)

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San Diego, CA

Gas prices soar nearly another dime overnight

Published

21 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Gas prices soar nearly another dime overnight

On Thursday, the average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County recorded its largest increase since Sept. 28, 2023, rising 8.7 cents to $4.894, its highest amount since Nov. 13.

The average price has increased 15 consecutive days, rising 28.7 cents, including 7 cents on Wednesday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 22.4 cents more than one week ago, 38.6 cents higher than one month ago and 14.5 cents greater than one year ago.

The average price has dropped $1.541 since rising to a record $6.435 on Oct. 5, 2022.

“Gas prices are rising primarily due to a recent surge in crude oil following strikes on Iran by the U.S. and Israel,” Kandace Redd, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s senior public affairs specialist, told City News Service. “Any conflict with Iran can send oil prices higher, as Iran is a major oil producer and about a fifth of the oil consumed globally travels through the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman.

“Gas prices are increasing because of seasonal factors too. Refineries are beginning the switch to more expensive summer-blend fuel, and demand is picking up as we head into the spring break season with more people on the road.”

The national average price rose 5.3 cents to $3.251, its highest amount since Sept. 11, 2024. It has risen five consecutive days, increasing 26.9 cents, including 8.9 cents on Wednesday.

The national average price is 26.8 cents more than one week ago, 36 cents higher than one month ago and 14.4 cents greater than one year ago. It has dropped $1.765 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022.

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San Diego, CA

UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance

Published

1 day ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance

UNLV Rebels (16-14, 11-8 MWC) at San Diego State Aztecs (19-10, 13-6 MWC)

San Diego; Friday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: UNLV faces San Diego State after Kimani Hamilton scored 24 points in UNLV’s 92-65 victory over the Utah State Aggies.

The Aztecs have gone 13-2 in home games. San Diego State is eighth in the MWC with 9.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Miles Heide averaging 2.0.

The Rebels have gone 11-8 against MWC opponents. UNLV ranks eighth in the MWC shooting 34.4% from 3-point range.

San Diego State averages 79.1 points per game, 0.6 more points than the 78.5 UNLV gives up. UNLV averages 7.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.9 fewer made shots on average than the 9.1 per game San Diego State allows.

The teams play for the second time in conference play this season. San Diego State won the last meeting 82-71 on Jan. 24. Miles Byrd scored 23 points points to help lead the Aztecs to the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Reese Dixon-Waters is shooting 35.9% from beyond the arc with 1.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Aztecs, while averaging 13 points. Byrd is averaging 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds over the past 10 games.

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn is shooting 50.9% and averaging 20.6 points for the Rebels. Hamilton is averaging 1.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Aztecs: 5-5, averaging 74.9 points, 28.9 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.0 points per game.

Rebels: 6-4, averaging 84.1 points, 32.3 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.8 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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