SANDY, Utah (Saturday, September 8, 2018) – Utah Royals FC announced the team’s inaugural season-ending award winners for 2018, which were based on voting by URFC players and coaches. Captain Becky Sauerbrunn was voted MVP and shared Co-Defender of the Year honors with DF Rachel Corsie. FW Brittany Ratcliffe won Goal of the Year for her stoppage-time goal to end North Carolina’s bid for an undefeated season. Additionally, FW Katie Stengel earned the Golden Boot, leading the team in scoring with six goals.
DF Becky Sauerbrunn:
URFC Most Valuable Player and Co-Defender of the Year
Becky Sauerbrunn was the first player committed to playing for Utah Royals FC in the club’s inaugural season and proved to be an important cornerstone to the organization as the team was built over 105 days from the announcement that NWSL would be coming to Utah and the first match in Orlando. The U.S. National Team defender was pivotal from Day One, showing her worth on the field, in the locker room and in the community.
DF Rachel Corsie:
Co-Defender of the Year
Rachel Corsie came to Utah as a free agent, signing in March and adding to a stifling back line. The Scotland National Team captain helped Royals FC to nine shutouts and a 0.96 goals against average. Her numerous goal-line clearances also earned her Save of the Week honors on multiple occasions, showing the resilience and relentlessness that kept Utah in the playoff chase into the final week of the season.
FW Brittany Ratcliffe:
Goal of the Year
Brittany Ratcliffe had two goals on the season, but one rang louder than any other in the NWSL season. Playing on the road against the previously unbeaten North Carolina Courage, Ratcliffe came on as a second-half sub and with the game hanging in the balance made her presence felt. With North Carolina looking to defend a Royals FC free kick, Ratcliffe slid in to take the ball off the boots of Jaelene Hinkle and in one motion turned and fired a first-time shot inside the far post from 20 yards out for a 1-0 victory to hand the Courage its only loss of the season.
FW Katie Stengel:
Golden Boot
Katie Stengel led the Royals with six goals on the season. The forward started in 10 of her 23 appearances on the season. She scored her first goal of the season on April 21 in a 2-2 draw with North Carolina, then added a brace in a 3-1 win over Sky Blue on June 30 and a pair of game-winners in consecutive matches against the Houston Dash on August 5 and Washington Spirit on August 8. Finally, she netted the game-winning goal in the regular season finale against Chicago on Saturday to reclaim the scoring lead from Amy Rodriguez, who finished the season with five goals.
