SANDY, Utah – (Saturday, October 12, 2019) – Utah Royals FC (10-10-4, 34 points) capped the 2019 season off with a 2-1 win over the Houston Dash in front of a home crowd of 9,513 at Rio Tinto Stadium.
FW Christen Press and FW Amy Rodriguez scored the two goals for Utah, their eighth and ninth of the season, respectively. Rodriguez finished the season as the team’s Golden Boot winner. GK Nicole Barnhart finished with two saves to preserve the victory.
Utah started off strong in the first half, netting two goals in the first 25 minutes from the team’s leading goalscorers. In the third minute Royals FC took the lead when DF Rachel Corise served a ball up to Press who exchanged a give-and-go with FW Katie Stengel to spilt the Houston defenders and get a clear shot on goal. The team continued the offensive press and 20 minutes later MF Vero Boqueteconnected with a pass, built up from the backline, and made a short pass to Rodriguez who took a brief touch and calmly doubled the lead.
Utah maintained a majority of the possession throughout the second half, but let one slip in the 78th minute when Sofia Huerta ran the ball up the right side and sent a cross in to an oncoming Kristie Mewis who took one back for the visiting team, ending the scoring at 2-1.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
UTA: Christen Press (Katie Stengel) 3rd minute: Just moments into the game DF Rachel Corsie sent a long ball up to FW Christen Press outside the 18-yard-box. With a quick give-and-go, Press sent the ball to FW Katie Stengel, who passed it right back through two Houston defenders. Press dribbled the ball up towards goal and took a left-footed shot on goal, sending it flying past Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell.
UTA: Amy Rodriguez (Vero Boquete) 23rd minute: After relentless press for a second goal, Utah built up out of the back through several players where the ball was met at the top of the penalty area by MF Vero Boquete who passed the ball in towards goal. FW Amy Rodriguez split two defenders and received the pass, taking a touch towards net and sent it into the bottom left corner to double the lead.
HOU: Kristie Mewis (Sofia Huerta) 78th minute: Sofia Huerta ran the ball, unmarked, up the right side of the field, dribbling up into the box before sending a lateral cross through Royals FC defenders to Kristie Mewis who put the ball in the back of the net to take back a goal.
NOTES:
- The match marked the end of the 2019 regular season for Utah.
- FW Christen Press scored her eighth goal of the season. FW Katie Stengel assisted the goal, making it her first of the year.
- Just to keep things interesting, FW Amy Rodriguez scored her ninth goal of the year, tied for the third-most in the league, jumping Press for the most on the team. Her goal was assisted by Vero Boquete, her sixth of the season, also tied for the third-most in the league.
Match: Utah Royals FC vs. Houston Dash
Date: October 12, 2019
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Attendance: 9,513
Weather: Clear and 50 Degrees
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Utah Royals FC 2 0 2
Houston Dash 0 11
UTA: Christen Press (Katie Stengel) 3’
UTA: Amy Rodriguez (Vero Boquete) 23’
HOU: Kristie Mewis (Sofia Huerta) 78’
Lineups:
Utah Royals FC (4-4-2): Nicole Barnhart; Mallory Weber (Michelle Maemone 79’), Becky Sauerbrunn ©, Rachel Corsie, Gunny Jónsdóttir; Vero Boquete, Katie Stengel (Katie Bowen 82’), Lo’eau LaBonta, Desiree Scott; Amy Rodriguez (Erika Tymrak 88’), Christen Press
Subs not used: Abby Smith, Gaby Vincent, Maddie Nolf, Makenzy Doniak
Houston Dash (4-1-4-1): Jane Campbell; Ari Romero, Amber Brooks, Ally Prisock, Haley Hanson (Lindsay Agnew 86’); Sophie Schmidt; Sofia Huerta, Christine Nairn (Cece Kizer 60’), Kristie Mewis, Kealia Ohai (Jamia Fields 86’); Rachel Daly
Subs not used: Bianca Henninger, Satara Murray, Betsy Brandon, Ari Calderon
Stats Summary: UTA / HOU
Shots: 22/6
Shots on Goal:7/3
Saves: 2/5
Corner Kicks:8/1
Fouls: 13/9
Offside:4/4
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
HOU: Sophie Schmidt (caution) 26’
HOU: Ari Romero (caution) 29’
UTA: Mallory Weber (caution) 70’
HOU: Rachel Daly (caution) 70’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.
Assistant Referees: Seth Martin, Melissa Beck
4th Official: Brad Jensen
