​Aug 21, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Wave FC forward Trinity Byars (15) celebrates after scoring during the second half against Utah Royals at Snapdragon Stadium.SAN DIEGO — Trinity Byars’ four goal contributions powered San Diego Wave FC to an impressive 4-2 home win over Utah Royals FC at Snapdragon Stadium. Byars delivered a flawless performance against one of the NWSL’s top contenders, scoring twice and adding two assists.Byars, a 23-year-old forward, scored four minutes into the match before assisting Melanie Barcenas ahead of halftime. Utah equalized twice behind goals from Mina Tanaka, but Byars and the Wave attack kept pushing. She scored the go-ahead goal in the 63rd minute on a fast break, then assisted Ludmila’s first goal since early April to secure the three points.“She’s a very, very good finisher, and we saw that today,” Wave head coach Jonas Eidevall said when asked about Byars’ performance. He also highlighted her passing skills, versatility, and ability to play 90 minutes week in and week out.Trinity Byars vs Utah: two goals + two assists.“She’s a very, very good finisher, and we saw that today,” San Diego Wave head coach Jonas Eidevall said about her outstanding performance. pic.twitter.com/TQHiFI2uEx— Sebastian Sanchez (@Sanchez_Reports) August 22, 2026San Diego returned home after a two-game road trip that included matches against two NWSL contenders: the Washington Spirit and Gotham FC. Lia Godfrey scored in the second half against Washington, leading the Wave to a 1-0 victory on Aug. 2. In their next match, Gotham forward Jaedyn Shaw scored against her former team, giving San Diego a loss.The Wave then returned home and tied 1-1 with Denver Summit FC last week. Young star forward Melanie Barcenas scored an incredible goal in the 35th minute. San Diego started strong, but its momentum faded in the second half. Denver’s Janine Sonis found Yazmeen Ryan for a header to tie.Heading into Friday night, Kimmi Ascanio (thigh) was listed as questionable. Ascanio was unavailable, along with Gia Corley (lower leg), Kenza Dali (lower leg) and Kiki Pickett (ankle).With a shorthanded midfield, Eidevall started Godfrey, Laurina Fazer and Laila Harbert. Harbert, who was acquired in late July, made her club debut in the previous match, playing 18 minutes. The 19-year-old English midfielder earned her first start against Utah.“I’m really grateful to be a part of this team,” Harbert told the media after the game. “When the opportunity came, I was really grateful for that.”Harbert added that it’s nice to earn the staff’s trust, and she hopes to play a big role for the club.The Royals entered Matchday 21 as the third-best team in the league with 11 wins and 36 points, behind Gotham and Washington. They entered Friday coming off a 3-2 win over Bay FC and had won four of their previous six matches. Cloé Lacasse and Mina Tanaka had formed a dynamic duo, combining for 12 goals and 12 assists this seaso