Now or Never
Last Wednesday, Royals FC fell 2-1 to Reign FC, dropping out of a playoff position and into fifth place. However, Utah is still in the playoff hunt. Should URFC win its next two games against the Chicago Red Stars and the Houston Dash and Reign loses at least one match and draws or loses in the other, then Royals FC would move back above the playoff line and into the postseason. If Utah is only able to secure one win in its last two games they will fail to qualify, regardless of the Reign’s results and the tie breaker would go to Reign FC as they have taken two wins this season over Utah.
They Want To Make Them Their Queens
During Wednesday’s match, FW Katie Stengel recorded her second goal of the season. Coincidentally both goals for her this year have come against Reign FC at Cheney Stadium. In addition, both goals were scored in a similar fashion as she was able to pounce on a scuffle inside the box to score. However, this week’s goal was assisted by MF Vero Boquete, marking her fifth of the season, tying her for the third-most in the league with Lynn Williams, Kristen Hamilton and Merritt Mathias of the North Carolina Courage and Sam Kerr of the Red Stars. Midfielder Yuki Nagasato of the Chicago Red Stars leads the league in assists this year with the Japanese midfielder having recorded seven assists during the 2019 campaign.
She Used to Meet Them on the Eastside
While Saturday’s match may be the second to last for Utah Royals FC it will mark the first either team has had the use of their United States Women’s National Team players on hand. The previous two matches on May 3 and August 3 fell during periods that the USWNT were either preparing for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, or celebrating their victory at the tournament. It will also mark the first time that FW Christen Press has returned to SeatGeek Stadium and only the second time facing her former team since being traded away from the Red Stars last season.
Thinking You Could Live Without Me
Saturday will mark a month and a half since one of Utah’s forwards have scored for Royals FC in a match. Both FW Christen Press and FW Amy Rodriguez scored a combined eight goals in the six weeks prior, but have yet to find the back of the net since their respective goals against the Orlando Pride on August 17. Since then, the team has posted a record of 1-3-1 and has only tallied three goals, scored by MF Gunny Jonsdottir, DF Becky Sauerbrunn and FW Katie Stengel.
