2018 Utah Royals FC season

The 2018 Utah Royals FC season was the team's inaugural season, and its first in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the top division of women's soccer in the United States.[1][2]

Utah Royals FC
2018 season
OwnerDell Loy Hansen
Head coachLaura Harvey
StadiumRio Tinto Stadium
NWSL5th
Top goalscorerKatie Stengel (6)
Highest home attendance19,203
(Apr 14 vs. CHI)
Lowest home attendance7,137
(May 9 vs. ORL)
Average home league attendance9,466
2019 →

Background

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Non-competitive

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Preseason

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March 3, 2018 Friendly Utah Royals FC v BYU Herriman, Utah
Stadium: Zions Bank Stadium
March 16, 2018 Friendly UCLA 1–4 Utah Royals FC Los Angeles, California
9 AM PT Sheehan   81' Report
Stadium: Frank Marshall Field

Competitions

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NWSL regular season

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Standings

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 North Carolina Courage (C) 24 17 6 1 53 17 +36 57 NWSL Shield
2 Portland Thorns FC 24 12 6 6 40 28 +12 42 NWSL Playoffs
3 Seattle Reign FC 24 11 8 5 27 19 +8 41
4 Chicago Red Stars 24 9 10 5 38 28 +10 37
5 Utah Royals FC 24 9 8 7 22 23 −1 35
6 Houston Dash 24 9 5 10 35 39 −4 32
7 Orlando Pride 24 8 6 10 30 37 −7 30
8 Washington Spirit 24 2 5 17 12 35 −23 11
9 Sky Blue FC 24 1 6 17 21 52 −31 9
Source: NWSL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(C) Champions

Results summary

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Overall Home Away
Pld Pts W L T GF GA GD W L T GF GA GD W L T GF GA GD
24 35 9 7 8 22 23  −1 5 3 4 11 7  +4 4 4 4 11 16  −5

Last updated: September 8, 2018
Source: NWSLsoccer.com
Pld = Matches played; Pts = Points; W = Matches won; T = Matches tied; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference

Results by round

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Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324
StadiumAAHAHHHHAAAAHHAAHHAHHAAH
ResultDDLDDWDWLWWLDWLLLDWWLDWW
Position[a]457776767656556667666655
Updated to match(es) played on September 8, 2018. Source: NWSLsoccer.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
  1. ^ UTA's position at the end of the matchweek, not the match itself.

Match results

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March
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Sat 24 March 1 Orlando Pride 1–1 Utah Royals FC Orlando, Florida
7:30 PM ET Marta   21' (pen)
Krieger   90+3'
Report Jónsdóttir   3' (Matheson)
Sauerbrunn   21'
Ratcliffe   58'
Stadium: Orlando City Stadium
Attendance: 9,017
Referee: Danielle Chesky
Fri 30 March 2 Houston Dash 0–0 Utah Royals FC Houston, Texas
7 PM CT Report Stadium: BBVA Compass Stadium
Attendance: 3,433
April
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Sat 14 April 3 Utah Royals FC 0–1 Chicago Red Stars Sandy, Utah
1:30 PM MT Report Colaprico   27' Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 19,203
Note: Televised on Lifetime.
Sat 21 April 4 North Carolina Courage 2–2 Utah Royals FC Cary, North Carolina
3:30 PM ET Mathias   6'
Hamilton   17'
Dunn   80'
Dahlkemper   87'
Report Ratcliffe   28'   66'
Stengel   52'
Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 3,958
Referee: Jon Fremon
Note: Televised on Lifetime.
Sat 28 April 5 Utah Royals FC 1–1 Portland Thorns FC Sandy, Utah
7 PM MT Rodriguez   53'
Jonsdottir   49'
Scott   85'
Report Heath   67' (Sinclair)
Purce   36'
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 8,446
Sat 5 May 6 Utah Royals FC 2–0 Washington Spirit Sandy, Utah
7 PM MT O’Hara   7'
Sauerbrunn   15'
Matheson   66'
Report Smith   72' Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 7,551
Referee: Reyna Fonseca
Wed 9 May 7 Utah Royals FC 0–0 Orlando Pride Sandy, Utah
7 PM MT Gorry   86' Report Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 7,137
Sat 19 May 8 Utah Royals FC 1–0 Houston Dash Sandy, Utah
1:30 PM MT Elby   9'
Tymrak   51'
Matheson   55'
Report Daly   12' Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 8,323
Referee: Eric Tattersall
Note: Televised on Lifetime.
Fri 25 May 9 Portland Thorns FC 2–0 Utah Royals FC Portland, Oregon
Sinclair   18'
Horan   39',   67'
Report Corsie   69'
Jónsdóttir   83'
Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 15,113
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
June
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Sat 2 June 10 Sky Blue FC 1–2 Utah Royals FC Piscataway, New Jersey
7 PM ET Groom   10'
Tiernan   92+'
Report Matheson   3'
Freeman   85' (o.g.)
Stadium: Yurcak Field
Attendance: 2,229
Referee: Lorant Varga
Sat 16 June 11 North Carolina Courage 0–1 Utah Royals FC Cary, North Carolina
7 PM ET Report Scott   26'
Ratcliffe   90+4'
Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 5,164
Sat 23 June 12 Chicago Red Stars 2–0 Utah Royals FC Bridgeview, Illinois
7 PM ET Naughton   62' (Colaprico)
DiBernardo   70' (Kerr)
Nagasato   87'
Report Stadium: Toyota Park
Attendance: 3,317
Referee: Natalie Simon
Wed 27 June 13 Utah Royals FC 0–0 Seattle Reign FC Sandy, Utah
8 PM MT Report Catley   59' Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 8,504
Sat 30 June 14 Utah Royals FC 3–1 Sky Blue FC Sandy, Utah
8 PM MT Press   7'
Stengel   25' (Press), 29' (Gorry)
Report Lloyd   62' (Dorsey) Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 8,394
July
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Fri 6 July 15 Portland Thorns FC 4–0 Utah Royals FC Portland, Oregon
8 PM PT Heath   2' (Crnogorčević)
Horan   32' (Heath)
Crnogorčević   34'
Lussi   62' (Horan)
Report Johnson   31'
Matheson   45'
Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 17, 930
Wed 11 July 16 Seattle Reign FC 1–0 Utah Royals FC Seattle, Washington
7:30 PM PT Long   45+2'
Rapinoe   54' (Catley)
Report Johnson   12'
Corsie   45+2'
Jónsdótti   66'
Stadium: Memorial Stadium (Seattle)
Attendance: 3,191
Sat 14 July 17 Utah Royals FC 1–2 Orlando Pride Sandy, Utah
5:00 PM PT Rodriguez   8' (Corsie) Report Hill   24'
Morgan   45+2' (pen.)
Edmonds   52' (Krieger)
Kennedy   68'
Ubogagu   75'
Camila   89'
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 8,761
Note: Televised on ESPNews.
Fri 20 July 18 Utah Royals FC 0–0 North Carolina Courage Sandy, Utah
8 PM PT Report Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 8,529
Referee: Christina Unkel
August
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Sun 5 August 19 Houston Dash 1–2 Utah Royals FC Houston, Texas
7:30 PM CT Latsko   41' (Huerta)
Huerta   48'
Report Press   77'
Stengel   83' (Tymrak)
Stadium: BBVA Compass Stadium
Attendance: 3,907
Wed 8 August 20 Utah Royals FC 1–0 Washington Spirit Sandy, Utah
8 PM MT Stengel   74' (Lytle) Report Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 8,154
Sat 11 August 21 Utah Royals FC 0–1 Seattle Reign FC Sandy, Utah
1:30 PM MT Fishlock   48' (Oyster)   74' Report Moros   90' Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 8,740
Note: Televised on Lifetime.
Sat 18 August 22 Sky Blue FC 2–2 Utah Royals FC Piscataway, New Jersey
7 PM ET Johnson   14' (Rodriguez), 48'
Killion   39'
Lloyd   69'
Tiernan   76'
Report Richardson   58' (o.g.)
Rodriguez   90+4' (Press)
Stadium: Yurcak Field
Attendance: 3,468
Wed 22 August 23 Washington Spirit 0–1 Utah Royals FC Boyds, Maryland
7:30 PM ET Report Rodriguez   12'
Corsie   17'
Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 3,318
September
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Sat 8 September 24 Utah Royals FC 2–1 Chicago Red Stars Sandy, Utah
1:30 PM MT Rodriguez   55' (Bowen)
Stengel   64' (Lytle)
Report Gilliland   17'
Stanton   25'
Kerr   39' (Gilliland)
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 11,851
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza

Stats

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As of September 8, 2018.[3]

Honors and awards

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NWSL season awards

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NWSL Team of the Month

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Month Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards Ref.
March   Becky Sauerbrunn   Gunnhildur Jonsdottir [6]
April   Becky Sauerbrunn [7]
May   Abby Smith   Becky Sauerbrunn [8]
June   Becca Moros
  Becky Sauerbrunn
[9]
July   Rachel Corsie [10]

NWSL weekly awards

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Goal of the Week

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Week Result Player Ref.
1 Won   Gunnhildur Jonsdottir [11]
4 Nominated   Brittany Ratcliffe [12]
5 Nominated   Amy Rodriguez [13]
6 Won   Diana Matheson [14]
8 Nominated   Erika Tymrak [15]
11/12 Won   Brittany Ratcliffe [16]
19 Won   Katie Stengel [17]
20 Nominated   Katie Stengel [18]
21 Nominated   Amy Rodriguez [19]
24 Nominated   Amy Rodriguez [20]

Save of the Week

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Week Result Player(s) Ref.
5 Nominated   Abby Smith [21]
9 Nominated   Abby Smith and   Becky Sauerbrunn [22]
16 Won   Rachel Corsie [23]
17 Won   Rachel Corsie [24]
20 Nominated   Abby Smith [25]
24 Won   Nicole Barnhart [26]

Club

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Roster

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As of July 20, 2018.[27][28] Age calculated as of the start of the 2018 season. All players were in their first year with the club and signed in 2018.
No. Name Nat. Pos. Date of birth (age) Previous team
1 Abby Smith   USA GK (1993-10-04)October 4, 1993 (aged 24)   Boston Breakers
2 Rachel Corsie   SCO DF (1989-08-17)August 17, 1989 (aged 28)   Seattle Reign
3 Rebecca Moros   USA DF (1985-05-06)May 6, 1985 (aged 32)   FC Kansas City
4 Becky Sauerbrunn   USA DF (1985-06-06)June 6, 1985 (aged 32)   FC Kansas City
5 Kelley O'Hara   USA DF (1988-08-04)August 4, 1988 (aged 29)   Sky Blue FC
6 Katie Bowen   NZL DF (1994-04-15)April 15, 1994 (aged 23)   FC Kansas City
7 Mandy Laddish   USA MF (1992-05-13)May 13, 1992 (aged 25)   FC Kansas City
8 Amy Rodriguez   USA FW (1987-02-17)February 17, 1987 (aged 31)   FC Kansas City
9 Lo'eau LaBonta   USA MF (1993-03-18)March 18, 1993 (aged 25)   FC Kansas City
10 Diana Matheson   CAN MF (1984-04-06)April 6, 1984 (aged 34)   Seattle Reign FC
11 Desiree Scott   CAN MF (1987-07-31)July 31, 1987 (aged 30)   FC Kansas City
12 Taylor Lytle   USA MF (1989-03-31)March 31, 1989 (aged 29)   Sky Blue FC
13 Makenzy Doniak   USA FW (1994-02-25)February 25, 1994 (aged 24)   North Carolina Courage
14 Alex Arlitt   USA DF (1993-08-25)August 25, 1993 (aged 24)   FC Kansas City
15 Erika Tymrak   USA MF (1991-08-07)August 7, 1991 (aged 26)   FC Kansas City
16 Samantha Johnson   USA DF (1991-06-10)June 10, 1991 (aged 26)   Chicago Red Stars
17 Sydney Miramontez   USA DF (1994-10-11)October 11, 1994 (aged 23)   FC Kansas City
18 Nicole Barnhart   USA GK (1981-10-10)October 10, 1981 (aged 36)   FC Kansas City
19 Katrina Gorry   AUS MF (1992-08-13)August 13, 1992 (aged 25)   Brisbane Roar
20 Elise Thorsnes   NOR FW (1988-08-14)August 14, 1988 (aged 29)   Avaldsnes
21 Christen Press   USA FW (1988-12-29)December 29, 1988 (aged 29)   Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC
23 Gunnhildur Yrsa Jónsdóttir   ISL MF (1988-09-28)September 28, 1988 (aged 29)   Vålerenga
24 Katie Stengel   USA FW (1992-02-29)February 29, 1992 (aged 26)   Boston Breakers
25 Brittany Ratcliffe   USA FW (1994-02-07)February 7, 1994 (aged 24)   FC Kansas City

Transfers

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As of July 19, 2018.[27]
Date Pos. Nat. Player Previous club Fees/notes Ref.
June 18, 2018 FW   USA Christen Press   Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC Acquired in a three-team trade with Chicago Red Stars and Houston Dash. [29]
DF   USA Samantha Johnson   Chicago Red Stars
June 28, 2018 FW   USA Makenzy Doniak   North Carolina Courage Acquired in trade with the North Carolina Courage for the rights to Heather O'Reilly. [30]
Player Position Destination club Fees/notes Date
  Alexa Newfield MF unattached Released 07/19/18
  Maegan Kelly MF unattached Released 06/20/18
  E.J. Proctor GK unattached Released 06/20/18
  Brooke Elby MF Chicago Red Stars Three team trade with the Chicago Red Stars and Houston Dash 06/18/18
Notes
  1. ^
    Option Declined (OPT): Players who have had their option declined may still be resigned by the club under a new contract.
  2. ^
    Free Agent (FREE): Players who are out of contract may still be resigned by the club under a new contract.

Trialist

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Player Position Previous team Notes Date Result
  Taylor Isom Defender Brigham Young University 2018 NWSL College Draft pick #14 01/18/18
  E.J. Proctor Goalkeeper Duke University 2018 NWSL College Draft pick #34 01/18/18

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Utah Royals are off to a fast start at the box office". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  2. ^ "Here's everything you need to know about the Utah Royals' women's soccer league, the NWSL". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  3. ^ "Stats". National Women's Soccer League. Archived from the original on February 14, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  4. ^ Purdy, Jacqueline (September 16, 2018). "2018 NWSL Awards Finalists". NWSLsoccer.com. NWSL. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  5. ^ "2018 NWSL Best XI and Second XI announced". Nwslsoccer.com. September 20, 2018. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  6. ^ Balf, Celia (April 6, 2018). "March Team of the Month". NWSLsoccer. NWSL. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  7. ^ Purdy, Jacqueline (May 3, 2018). "April Team of the Month". NWSLsoccer.com. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  8. ^ Balf, Celia (June 6, 2018). "May Team of the Month". NWSLsoccer.com. NWSL. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  9. ^ Purdy, Jacqueline (July 6, 2018). "June Team of the Month". NWSLsoccer.com. NWSL. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  10. ^ "July Team of the Month". August 3, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  11. ^ "Vote: Goal of the Week". National Women's Soccer League. March 26, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  12. ^ "Vote: Goal of the Week". National Women's Soccer League. April 23, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  13. ^ "Week 5 Goal of the Week nominees". National Women's Soccer League. April 30, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  14. ^ "Vote: Goal of the Week". National Women's Soccer League. May 7, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  15. ^ Balf, Celia (May 21, 2018). "Vote: Goal of the Week". NWSL. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  16. ^ Balf, Celia (June 19, 2018). "Goal of the Week: Brittany Ratcliffe". NWSL. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  17. ^ "Goal of the Week: Katie Stengel". August 7, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  18. ^ "Goal of the Week Nominees: Week 20". August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  19. ^ "Goal of the Week Nominees: Week 21". August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  20. ^ "Goal of the Week Nominees: Week 24". September 10, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  21. ^ "Week 5 Save of the Week nominees". NWSL. April 30, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  22. ^ "Vote: Save of the Week". National Women's Soccer League. May 29, 2018. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  23. ^ "Save of the Week: Rachel Corsie". NWSL. July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  24. ^ "Save of the Week: Rachel Corsie". NWSL. July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  25. ^ "Week 20 Save of the Week nominees". NWSL. August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  26. ^ "Week 24 Save of the Week". September 11, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  27. ^ a b "Canadian WNT Standout Desiree Scott, "The Destroyer," Officially Commits to Utah Royals FC". rsl.com. January 15, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  28. ^ "Utah Royals Players". Utah Royals FC. Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  29. ^ "Utah Royals FC Acquire Rights to USWNT FW Christen Press Plus DF Samantha Johnson From Chicago Red Stars". rsl.com. June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  30. ^ "North Carolina Courage sign Heather O'Reilly after trade with Utah Royals FC". June 28, 2018. Archived from the original on September 11, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2018.