Maycee Bell didn’t need long.

She firmly made her first mark on the NWSL.

On a team full of veterans, it was the rookie who came up big in the clutch.

Bell came off the bench to score a late, 99th-minute winner as Gotham beat the San Diego Wave, 2-1, Wednesday night at Red Bull Arena.

“I kind of blacked out after I scored,” Bell said. “I was just super joyful. It’s a very surreal moment. I can just feel that my teammates were super happy for me, too. It was an awesome moment.”

Gotham (8-3-2, 27 points) are now unbeaten in their last nine games, and extended their winning streak to five games. They moved up to third in the table, behind the Current and Pride, who both have 29 points.

They had upper hand most of the second half, and Bell, a defender who was Gotham’s first-round pick (No. 14) this year, ventured forward into the Wave’s box.

She collected a cross from Jenna Nighswonger before firing past Wave goalkeeper Kailen Sheriden to give Gotham their 2-1 lead.

Bell had subbed in for Bruninha in the 84th minute, and delivered the goal roughly 15 minutes later.

It was Bell’s first goal in the NWSL.

“I’m glad God blessed me with some long legs to get that first touch,” Bell said. “I’ve just been trying to work really hard, and it was great to finally get the outcome.”

Rose Lavelle opened the scoring for Gotham. She only needs an inch, so when she found herself all alone in the Wave’s half just before halftime, it almost seemed inevitable that she’d punish her opponent. Lavelle subsequently thumped a left-footed screamer from outside the box into the top corner past Sheridan.

Katie Stengel won possession back for Gotham in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time and Lavelle quickly scooped the ball up before driving at the Wave’s defense.

Lavelle was allowed to take five touches without any Wave defender stepping up to challenge her, and as a result she had time to set up her curling missile into the back of the net.

The goal was Lavelle’s third this year and second in her last three games.

Mya Jones equalized for the Wave just minutes into the second half after collecting an errant pass from Ann-Katrin Berger and then firing to the near post. Berger wasn’t under much pressure, but her one-touch pass went right to Jones in a moment the goalie would like to have back.

United States Women’s National Team legend Alex Morgan subbed on for the Wave at halftime and played the second half but was quiet.

A year after winning the NWSL Championship, Gotham are humming again.

“Everyone stepped on that pitch to make sure Gotham was the winner,” head coach Juan Carlos Amoros said. “That’s been the case not only through this run but since the beginning of this year, from last year as well. That’s why we’re the reigning champions.”