URFC Continues to Lead the League in Fewest Goals Conceded;
Set to Play Against a Winless Sky Blue FC at Yurcak Field;
5:00 p.m. MT Kickoff from New Jersey Airs Live as Part of Five-Hour Block
on KMYU, KSL TV App, and Rewind 100.7 FM
SANDY, UT (Friday, June 1, 2018) – Utah Royals FC (2-2-5, 11 pts., NWSL 6th place) travels east Saturday evening to face Sky Blue FC for the first time ever at Yurcak field on the campus of Rutgers University on Saturday, June 2, at 5:00 p.m. MT. The game will air live on KMYU and the KSL app, as well as Rewind 100.7 FM in Utah, with Greg Wrubell and Carla Haslam on the call, part of a five-hour soccer block Saturday leading into the RSL v. Seattle broadcast.
Both teams are missing players due to USWNT call-ups for the upcoming international friendlies against China on Thursday at Rio Tinto Stadium and June 12 in Ohio – including Utah Captain Becky Sauerbrunn, FW Amy Rodriguez and GK Abby Smith; Sky Blue FC will be without Carli Lloyd and Savannah McCaskill. Utah has seen an NWSL-high nine players selected for international duty during next weekend’s FIFA break, as DF Rachel Corsie (Scotland), MF Gunny Jonsdottir (Iceland), MF Katie Bowen (New Zealand), FW Elise Thorsnes (Norway) join Canadian internationals Desiree Scott and Diana Matheson, as well as the USA trio.
Sky Blue FC (0-7-1, 1 point) currently occupies last place in the NWSL standings in Head Coach Denise Reddy’s first year with the club, and her third year in the NWSL. URFC – which leads the league in fewest goals conceded – seeks its first-ever road win against a winless Sky Blue FC, which has allowed 14 goals thus far in the 2018 NWSL season. Two former Sky Blue players now call Utah home, as DF Taylor Lytle and DF Kelley O’Hara were acquired by Laura Harvey in late December.
How to Follow Utah Royals FC v. Sky Blue FC – Sat., June 2, 2018
Coverage Begins: 5:00 p.m. MT
Local TV: KMYU – Greg Wrubell & Carla Haslam
Local Radio: Rewind 100.7 FM
Digital Streaming (Utah only): KSL TV app or KSL.com (desktop)
Digital Streaming (outside Utah): Verizon “go90” app or www.NWSLsoccer.com
Game Notes for Saturday’s URFC v. SBFC game Available Online
The link to the Adobe PDF version of the Game Guide in advance of Saturday’s contest between Utah Royals FC and Sky Blue FC is available HERE. If you have any problems obtaining the document, would prefer to receive it as an attachment, or are seeking more information on the match, please contact Carla Haslam in the URFC Communications Department via email at chaslam@rsl.com.
Last week the Utah side played against Portland at Providence Park, ultimately suffering a 0-2 loss against the Thorns. Head Coach Laura Harvey and her squad have now regrouped to play the second of a four-game road campaign this weekend, divided by a FIFA break window – which will include an international friendly at Rio Tinto Stadium on Thursday, between the USWNT and China. Utah returns home on Wednesday, June 27 as Harvey faces her former Seattle Reign side for the first time.
In the inaugural match at the RioT -- welcoming over 19,000 screaming fans -- FW Elise Thorsnes and MF Gunny Jonsdottir both found opportunities in front of the frame but were unable to capitalize. USWNT forward Amy Rodriguez also made her return to the pitch, subbing in late in the game after 363 days of ACL surgery rehab and recovery. A solid possession game gave URFC chances in the attack, but a world-class volley in the first-half from the Chicago midfielder left the team trailing 1-0 for a majority of the match.
Born less than a year ago and already supported by over 5,000 season ticket holders, Utah Royals FC tickets are available by calling 844.Real.Tix or visiting www.UtahRoyalsFC.com.
