SANDY, Utah – (Saturday, July 27, 2019) – Utah Royals FC (5-5-3, 18 points) fell 2-1 to the North Carolina Courage, marking the first time the club has been defeated by the defending National Women’s Soccer League Champions.
FW Christen Press notched the club’s lone goal on the night, marking her third of the year and her second in as many matches.
Royals FC came out strong and was quick to capitalize, taking the lead in the 13th minute with a goal from Press as she notched her second in as many games. The goal was assisted by MF Vero Boquete, her first since returning to the starting lineup.
North Carolina pulled a goal back in the 35th minute when Kristen Hamilton volleyed the ball into the back of the net to draw the match level. Hamilton helped the Courage take the lead near the start of the second half when she broke away from Utah’s defense to send a cross into forward Jessica McDonald. The goal would prove to be the game winner for North Carolina as the defending champions walked away victorious by a 2-1 scoreline.
UP NEXT: URFC heads East to take on the Chicago Red Stars at SeatGeek Stadium on August 3 at 6:00 p.m. MT, the first visit this season to Chicago.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
UTA: Christen Press (Vero Boquete) 13th minute: MF Vero Boquete received the ball just below the midfield circle, sending a pass up the middle to the feet of FW Christen Press. After taking a touch to her right, dodging the North Carolina defender she sent a rocket of a shot that bent into the upper right corner of goal to give Utah Royals FC the lead.
NC: Kristen Hamilton (Samantha Mewis) 35th minute: After receiving the ball from Samantha Mewis, Courage forward Kristen Hamilton chested the ball down near the penalty spot before following up with a close-range volley to pick up the equalizer.
NC: Jessica McDonald (Kristen Hamilton) 54th minute: After breaking out on the left side of the box, Kristen Hamilton sent a cross into an unmarked Jessica McDonald who slipped the ball in past Nicole Barnhart for North Carolina’s first lead of the night.
NOTES:
- MF Vero Boquete returned to the starting lineup for URFC after missing the last month due to an ankle injury suffered on June 15 against Sky Blue FC.
- FW Christen Press scored the opening goal of the match, her second in as many games that was assisted by MF Vero Boquete, her third this season.
- MF Gunny Johnsdottir was substituted off in the 72nd minute, marking only the second time in two seasons that she has not played the full 90 minutes.
- Utah Royals FC fell to the North Carolina Courage for the first time in the club’s history, moving its all-time record to 1-1-3.
Match: Utah Royals FC vs. North Carolina Courage
Date: July 27, 2019
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Attendance: 10,545
Weather: Sunny and 83 degrees
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Utah Royals FC 1 0 1
North Carolina Courage 1 1 2
UTA: Christen Press (Vero Boquete) 13’
NC: Kristen Hamilton (Samantha Mewis) 35’
NC: Jessica McDonald (Kristen Hamilton) 54’
Lineups:
Utah Royals FC (4-4-2): Nicole Barnhart; Kelley O’Hara, Becky Sauerbrunn ©, Rachel Corsie, Katie Bowen (Mallory Weber, 81’);Vero Boquete, Gunny Jonsdottir (Katie Stengel 72’), Lo’eau LaBonta (Erika Tymrak, 87’), Desiree Scott; Amy Rodriguez, Christen Press
Subs not used: Abby Smith, Gabby Vincent,Makenzy Doniak, Sydney Miramontez
North Carolina Courage (4-3-3): Steph Labbe; Abby Erceg ©, Merrit Mathias, Abby Dahlkemper, Jaelene Hinkle; Sam Mewis, Denise O’Sullivan, Crystal Dunn; Debinha (Meredith Speck, 87’), Jessica McDonald (McCall Zerboni 79’), Kristen Hamilton (Leah Pruitt 90+1’)
Subs not used: Katelyn Rowland, Kaleigh Kurtz, Cari Roccaro, Julia Spetsmark
Stats Summary: UTA / NC
Shots: 12/16
Shots on Goal: 7/5
Saves: 3/6
Corner Kicks: 8/6
Fouls: 8/12
Offside: 4/0
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
N/A
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Mark Allatin
Assistant Referees: Jennifer Garner, Katarzyna Wasiak
4th Official: Casey Howard
