UTAH ROYALS FC CLAIM CRITICAL 1-0 AT WASHINGTON SPIRIT
First-Half Goal From Amy Rodriguez Keeps Playoff Berth Within Reach; Utah Royals FC Return to Rio Tinto for Must-Win Season Finale
BOYDS, Maryland (Wednesday, August 22, 2018) – Utah Royals FC (8-7-8, 32 points) kept itself in playoff contention on Wednesday night, beating the Washington Spirit 1-0 at Maureen Hendricks Field. The win pushes the club above the playoff line to 4th place in the National Women’s Soccer League standings as it awaits results from other games this weekend, which could affect the team’s inaugural season fate. A goal from FW Amy Rodriguez - her second in as many matches - early in the first half paired with relentless pressure from the rest of the team, helped the club claim the full three points.
URFC started the game with purpose, pressuring the opposition high up the field, and creating quality opportunities in the final third. As a result, it got an early lead with a goal from Rodriguez in the 12th minute of the game. The goal came about when FW Katie Stengel quickly switched the ball out wide to an open FW Christen Press. Press then crossed the ball into the box where Rodriguez used her body to bounce it towards the goal. Washington goalkeeper Didi Haracic managed to save the initial attempt but couldn’t hold on and Rodriguez knocked the rebound into top right corner for her 4th goal of the season. URFC and Rodriguez came very close to adding to their tally a few times before the break but were thwarted by some impressive saves to keep the 1-0 score line at the half.
Washington was much more dangerous in the second-half, causing URFC some problems as it tried to protect its lead. However, URFC still had the best of the opportunities, with a variety of players getting shots on goal. Press had two almost identical chances where she drove into the box, cut the ball back with her right foot, and shot the ball just wide with her left. DF Becky Sauerbrunn came up big with some perfectly timed slide tackles, and substitutes MFs Kelley O’Hara, Diana Matheson, and Lo’eau LaBonta kept the energy strong as URFC managed to close the game out with a clean sheet and a crucial win.
UP NEXT: URFC will play its final match of the regular season when they face the Chicago Red Stars at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, September 8, at 1:30 p.m. MT. This gives it two and a half weeks, with several of the players attending international duty, before a game that could very well decide the team's playoff fate. URFC have yet to get a favorable result against Chicago, with an unlucky 0-1 loss in April’s home-opener, and a 2-0 loss away from home in June. As such, URFC will be hoping that third time’s a charm against Chicago – on “Fan Appreciation Day” at the Rio Tinto Stadium.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
UTA: FW Amy Rodriguez, 12th minute – MF Christen Press crossed the ball into the box where Amy Rodriguez knocked it off her body towards the goal. Washington goalkeeper Didi Haracic saved the initial attempt, but Rodriguez put the rebound away into the top right corner.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS:
WASH: GK Didi Haracic, 7’ – Amy Rodriguez takes shot from a tight angle, but Didi pushes it out of bounds with strong hands.
UTA: GK Nicole Barnhart, 14’ – Nicole Barnhart rushes out of the box to knock the ball out of bounds after a Washington striker gets a ball over the top to start a breakaway.
WASH: GK Didi Haracic, 37’ – FW Lytle crosses the ball into FW Rodriguez who connects with a volley that Haracic blocks to the left.
WASH: GK Didi Haracic, 38’ – DF Becky Sauerbrunn intercepts the ball and keeps it in play with a ball over the top to FW Christen Press. Press then floats in a cross to FW Amy Rodriguez who shoots quickly, but GK Didi Haracic blocks low right.
WASH: GK Didi Haracic, 59’ – MF Gunny Jonnsdottir flicks a header off of a corner backwards toward the top right corner of the goal, but GK Didi Haracic makes a diving save to the right.
UTA: Becky Sauerbrunn, 61’ – Becky makes a perfectly timed slide tackle to interrupt a dangerous Washington counter attack.
NOTES:
-- URFC’s first win ever was against Washington back in May, and they have now won in all three meetings the teams have had.
-- Gunny Jonsdottir has played every minute of every game for URFC this season totaling 2,070 minutes on the year.
-- Leading up to the game, Becky Sauerbrunn led the league with passing accuracy percentage, while her center-back partner Rachel Corsie led the league in number of successful passes.
-- Kelley O’Hara was in the 18 for the first time since May 9, after battling a hamstring injury. She subbed into the game in the 76th minute.
Match: Utah Royals FC vs Washington Spirit
Date: August 22, 2018
Venue: Maureen Hendricks Field, Maryland SoccerPlex; Boyds, MD
Attendance: 3,318
Weather: Sunny, 82 F
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Utah Royals FC 1 0 1
Washington Spirit 0 0 0
UTA: Rodriguez, 12’
Lineups:
Utah Royals FC (4-3-3): Nicole Barnhart, Becca Moros, Rachel Corsie, Becky Sauerbrunn, Katie Bowen, Gunny Jonsdottir, Katie Stengel, Desiree Scott (Lo’eau LaBonta 66’), Taylor Lytle (Diana Matheson 73’), Christen Press, Amy Rodriguez (Kelley O’Hara 76’).
Subs not used: Abby Smith, Katrina Gorry, Samantha Johnson, Erika Tymrak
Washington Spirit: (4-2-3-1): Didi Haracic, Caprice Dydasco, Estelle Johnson, Rebecca Quinn, Taylor Smith, Andi Sullivan, Whitney Church, Mallory Eubanks, Rose Lavelle (Meggie Dougherty Howard 62’), Mallory Pugh (Cali Farquharson 64’), Ashley Hatch.
Subs not used: Aubrey Bledsoe, Joanna Lohman, Arielle Ship, Havana Solaun
Stats Summary: UTA / WASH
Shots: 21 / 2
Shots on Goal: 11 / 0
Saves: 10 / 0
Corner Kicks: 8 / 2
Fouls: 5 / 2
Offside: 5 / 1
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
UTA: Rachel Corsie, 17’ Yellow
OFFICIALS:
Center: Natalie Simon
First Assistant: Brooke Mayo
Second Official: Dan Stupca
Fourth: Hamed Sadeghi
