SANDY, Utah – (Wednesday, August 7, 2019) – Utah Royals FC (6-6-3, 21 points) defeated Sky Blue FC 3-0 behind a goal from FW Amy Rordriguez and a brace from FW Christen Press.
Utah Royals FC put out a dominant performance over its opponents from New Jersey, outshooting Sky Blue FC 23-13 and while GK Nicole Barnhart made three saves to stave off the visiting attack in the clean sheet, her seventh this season.
After missing the last game due to international duty Press made a splash in her return, kicking off scoring for URFC in the 27th minute after she recovered a blocked pass from MF Lo’eau LaBonta to record her third goal in as many games.
Two minutes later Press found the back of the net again with an assist from LaBonta, utilizing her right foot to hit the ball on the run for the second goal of the match.
At the start of the second half FW Mallory Weber made quick work, dribbling down the left side to send a narrow pass in to FW Amy Rodriguez who was able to get her entire body around the ball to rocket off a shot deep into the right side of goal to give Utah it’s first three-goal lead of the season.
URFC continued to push for more goals, putting 12 shots on goal to just three in the match for Sky Blue, but finished with the 3-0 final score.
UP NEXT: URFC once again faces a quick turnaround as the squad makes its first road trip to Tacoma, Washington to face Reign FC on Sunday, August 11 at 12:00 p.m. MT in the first of three-consecutive away matches.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
UTA: Christen Press 27th minute: MF Lo’eau LaBonta sent a pass up the middle towards an oncoming FW Christen Press. Sky Blue FC defender Erica Skroski was able to intercept the pass, but Press jumped over her opponent to meet the ball and slam it into the back of the net for her third goal in as many games.
UTA: Christen Press (Lo’eau LaBonta) 29th minute: Just two minutes later MF Lo’eau LaBonta again sent a cross into the box from the endline to the feet of FW Christen Press who with her right foot netted the ball to earn a brace and record her fifth goal of the season.
UTA: Amy Rodriguez (Mallory Weber) 48th minute: At the top of the second half FW Mallory Weber made a pass through a narrow opening in Sky Blue FC’s defense to the feet of FW Amy Rodriguez who then turned her entire body to take the shot off into the right side of goal, her sixth of the season.
NOTES:
- MF Gunny Jonsdottir started the match on the bench for the first time in her Utah Royals FC career, ending a 38-game consecutive starting streak.
- After missing the last match due to international duty, DF Becky Sauerbrunn and FW Christen Press returned to the starting lineup.
- The match marked the third and final time Utah Royals FC will face Sky Blue FC in the 2019 regular season.
- FW Christen Press recorded her first brace in a Utah Royals FC uniform, scoring two goals in two minutes for her fourth and fifth goals of the season.
- FW Amy Rodriguez scored her first goal in almost two months, marking her sixth goal of the season, the most on the Utah Royals FC squad and tied for the fourth-most in the league.
- FW Mallory Weber recorded her first assist in a Utah Royals FC uniform for her assist on the third goal of the match.
- Utah Royals FC scored three goals in a single match for only the second time in the club’s history, the first took place on June 30, 2018, also against Sky Blue FC.
Match: Utah Royals FC vs. Sky Blue FC
Date: Aug. 7, 2019
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy; Utah
Attendance: 7,715
Weather: Clear and 78 degrees
Scoring Summary:12F
Utah Royals FC213
Sky Blue FC000
UTA: Christen Press 27’
UTA: Christen Press (Lo’eau LaBonta) 29’
UTA: Amy Rodriguez (Mallory Weber) 48’
Lineups:
Utah Royals FC (4-4-2): Nicole Barnhart; Mallory Weber (Makenzy Doniak 80’), Becky Sauerbrunn ©, Rachel Corsie, Katie Bowen;Vero Boquete, Katie Stengel (Gunny Jonsdottir 64’), Lo’eau LaBonta, Desiree Scott; Amy Rodriguez (Erika Tymrak 68’), Christen Press
Subs not used: Abby Smith, Sydney Miramontez, Maddie Nolf, Gaby Vincent
Sky Blue FC (4-3-3): Kailen Sheridan; Erica Skroski, Caprice Dydasco, Imani Dorsey, Estelle Johnson; Elizabeth Eddy, Sarah Killion ©, Paige Monaghan; Julie James, Carli Lloyd, Jen Hoy (Kenie Wright 46’)
Subs not used: DiDi Haracic, Gina Lewandowski, Domi Richardson, Naho Kawasumi, Kaylan Marckese
Stats Summary: UTA / NJ
Shots: 23/13
Shots on Goal: 12/3
Saves: 3/8
Corner Kicks: 6/3
Fouls: 2/4
Offside: 3/4
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
NJ: Kenie Wright (caution) 60’
NJ: Jen Hoy (caution) 61’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Reyna Fonseca
Assistant Referees: Salma Perez, Melissa Beck
4th Official: German Hortal
