An uneven and patchy playing surface was a bummer for Saturday night’s Wave match at $310-million Snapdragon Stadium.

The Wave achieved a gorgeous result nevertheless – a 2-0 victory over the Portland Thorns that featured the first goal by San Diego product and crowd favorite Melanie Barcenas, 16. before an announced turnout of 15,271.

“I’m just excited to keep getting better,” Barcenas told the ION broadcast.

From the right flank, Barcenas drove past a defender and lined a left-footed, 18-yard shot that appeared destined for the far post netting. When the ball deflected off a Thorns player to inside of the near post, Barcenas was awarded her first career goal in 16 career matches.

It was a deserved breakthrough for Barcenas, who entered in the 59th minute.

She has shown rare ball skills since entering the league last year but lost developmental time to a hip injury earlier this season.

Barcenas attributed her goal, which came a month before her 17th birthday, to the space and confidence created by rookie Mya Jones’ and Maria Sanchez’s collaboration for the night’s first goal six minutes earlier.

Sanchez curled a free kick deep into the penalty box. As Portland midfielder Sam Coffey attempted to head the ball away, the 5-foot-7 Jones crowded her and the ball bounced off her chest for her second goal.

Barcenas praised interim coach Landon Donovan’s pointers and overall guidance.

“Everyone’s being themselves,” she said after teammates doused her with cold water. “It’s really exciting, hard work.”

Defensively, Wave star Naomi Girma snuffed Portland’s best chance by blocking a 7-yard shot.

Despite a 12-game winless streak this summer, the 12th-place Wave (5-10-7) still have a realistic path to the postseason. They’re just three points — one victory — behind Racing Louisville and Bay FC for the eighth and final playoff spot. They have four more matches remaining, beginning Saturday at North Carolina.