Bay FC beats in-state rival, makes leap in NWSL standings
SAN JOSE – Bay FC has quickly gotten the upper hand against in-state rival Angel City.
Tess Boade scored in the 33rd minute and Katelyn Rowland made four saves as Bay FC shut out the Los Angeles side 1-0 on Saturday night in front of 15,640 at PayPal Park.
Bay FC won its first-ever game 1-0 at Angel City on March 17. That was Bay FC’s only shutout of the season until Saturday – the team allowed a league-high 25 goals in its previous 13 games.
With the three points, Bay FC jumped from 10th to 6th in the NWSL, where the top eight teams make the playoffs – though it has played two more games than the three teams directly behind it in the standings.
After making six straight appearances as a sub, midfielder Dorian Bailey earned the start Saturday and contributed to the goal by splitting two defenders with a pass that allowed defender Emily Menges to get behind the defense. Menges sent a cross that was directed into the far corner by Boade, who became the first player in club history to score three goals.
Once again, one goal was enough to get the win against Angel City, which has yet to crack Bay FC’s defense.
Lysianne Proulx made 10 saves to record the shutout against Angel City in the first matchup, but Rowland has taken over in net and made her seventh straight start in the rematch.
Rowland justified the keeper switch in the 15th minute, stopping World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist Sydney Leroux from inside the six-yard box.
Boade’s goal and Leroux’s shot were the only shots on goal in the first half, though Rocky Rodriguez hit the crossbar from 16 yards out for Angel City in the 29th minute.
Bay FC had the best chance in the second half, but Angel City keeper DiDi Haracic made a spectacular kick save on an attempt by Rachael Kundananji in the 71st minute.
While Angel City controlled play in the first matchup, outshooting Bay FC 21-8, Bay FC had an 11-8 edge in shots at PayPal Park.
The teams will play again on July 26 at PayPal Park in the NWSLxLiga MX Femenil Summer Cup. Bay FC continues its NWSL campaign next Saturday at Louisville, and hosts Washington on July 6.
Menges became the ninth player in league history to reach 15,000 minutes. Menges played with Portland from 2014-23, winning NWSL titles in 2017 and 2022.