On June 7, 2013, the San Diego Flash (NPSL) defeated the Las Vegas Stallions 4-2. It was my first time being on the sidelines for a soccer match that I wasn’t playing in. Clent Alexander, the owner of the San Diego Flash at the time, found San Diego Sports Domination online and invited me to cover soccer. Little did he know the impact that day would have on me—from receiving my first media credential to now having covered countless events.

For many years, Clent fought hard to bring professional soccer to San Diego, exploring various options for building a stadium and retrofitting existing ones. His vision was always to establish professional soccer in the city. Our social media updates often included the hashtag #GrowTheGame. Sadly, Clent passed away due to medical complications in 2015.

On May 7, 2022, part of Clent’s dream came true when San Diego Wave FC (NWSL) took the field against Gotham FC at Torero Stadium, the first instance of professional women’s soccer in San Diego since 2001. The San Diego Wave won that match 4-0 against Gotham FC. I had the honor and privilege of photographing 28 Wave FC home matches starting from the 2022 season, and I served as one of the team photographers during the 2024 season.

On October 29, 2023, the USWNT played at Snapdragon Stadium for the very first time against Colombia, marking the ninth match for the team in San Diego. I was fortunate to photograph that match on assignment for SDnews.com. San Diego Wave forward Jaedyn Shaw scored her first goal with the USWNT during the match.

In 2024, I had the privilege of photographing the Women’s Concacaf Gold Cup, which held some rounds at Snapdragon Stadium. This Gold Cup will be most remembered for the dramatic rainy semifinal match between the USWNT and Canada on March 6, 2024, which was decided by penalty kicks.

On February 26, 2025, I made my official debut photographing for a national team, having been hired to cover the 2025 She Believes Cup stop in San Diego. I photographed the Matildas (Australia women’s national football team) and then stayed after the match to photograph the USWNT for the third time in three years. This marked the USWNT‘s 12th match in San Diego, though they unfortunately lost to Japan 2-1 in the final.

March 1, 2025, is the day Clent dreamed of: MLS has come to San Diego. San Diego FC is set to play its first match in franchise history at home tonight against Saint Louis in front of a sold-out Snapdragon Stadium. This match will break the stadium’s all-time attendance record of 34,248, which was previously set during the Manchester United vs. Wrexham match on July 25, 2023, a game I had the pleasure of photographing for TEG/Bursty, the official event sponsor.

It has been 4,285 days (11.7 years) since I began covering and photographing soccer in America’s Finest City. I have photographed soccer at nearly all levels, including club, high school, college, Major Arena Soccer League (MASL), National Independent Soccer Association (NISA), National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL), and international friendlies.

Tonight, new history will be written, and I’m sure Clent Alexander will be looking down and smiling. His dream of professional soccer in San Diego has come true. San Diego FC, you are now on the clock—it’s time to create your own history.

**Home Opener Records in San Diego Professional Soccer:**

– April 22, 2001: San Diego Spirit lose 2-0 to Philadelphia Charge in front of 6,155 fans.

– May 7, 2022: San Diego Wave FC win 4-0 over Gotham FC in front of 5,000 fans.