What is the best moment in Utah Royals FC history? It's up to you to decide which iconic memory will be selected! Follow along as we crown the top moment in club history in our URFC Bracket Challenge starting on Wednesday, April 1. The Final Four will be part of Road to the Final presented by Pepsi.
Everyday we’ll release a new matchup that will be available to vote on for 24 hours. Be sure to follow @UtahRoyalsFC on social media for details.
First Goal in URFC History
On March 24, 2018 Utah Royals FC opened its National Women’s Soccer League campaign, facing Orlando Pride in its first-ever match. Just three minutes into run-of-play Iceland international Gunny Jonsdottir scored the club’s first-ever goal when Diana Matheson sent in a long ball into the box where she easily slipped it past the goalkeeper to take the early lead. Utah went on to end the match with a 1-1 draw after a controversial hand-ball call on Becky Sauerbrunn led to a penalty kick for Orlando.
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First Pride Night
In the club’s first year in the National Women’s Soccer League the Real Salt Lake organization became the first professional club in Utah history to host a LGBTQ Pride night. The club’s three teams all had a designated Pride match with Utah Royals FC hosting theirs on June 27 against the former Seattle Reign FC. The match resulted in a 0-0 draw for both sides.
Brittany Ratcliffe’s Winning Goal Against North Carolina
On June 16, 2018 Utah Royals FC defeated North Carolina Courage in a 1-0 thriller thanks to a banger goal from forward Brittany Ratcliffe in the final seconds of the match. With the seconds ticking off the clock Utah earned a free kick near the team’s bench, Diana Matheson sent a long ball in towards the top of the box. Matheson’s ball bounced out at the top of the box and Ratcliffe was able to run onto it, trap it and then chipped the ball past the goalkeeper to secure the game-winner.
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Inaugural Home Opener
Utah Royals FC made history when they hosted the Chicago Red Stars on April 14, 2018 in their first-ever match at Rio Tinto Stadium. Despite the match ending in a 1-0 loss for Utah, the sellout crowd signified good things to come.
Amy Rodriguez’s Puskas Goal against Sky Blue
Amy Rodriguez made national headlines when she uncharacteristically dirbbled the ball down field and hit a long-range banger deep into goal against Sky Blue FC on June 15, 2019. Not only did her goal receive national recognition, it piqued the interest of the FIFA Awards, gaining her a nomination for the FIFA Puskás Award, given to the player with the most outstanding goal of the year.
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FIFA World Cup Champions Receive Keys to the City
After returning from success at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup Christen Press, Kelley O’Hara and Becy Sauerbrunn were honored at the Salt Lake City and County Building with keys to the city. City and County Mayors Jackie Biskupski and Jenny Wilson rolled out the red carpet to bestow this great honor, recognizing their triumph in lifting their second-straight FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy.
Announcement of Utah Royals FC
On November 16, 2017 Real Salt Lake announced that it would be joining the National Women’s Soccer League as an expansion team. Just a few days later it was announced that FC Kansas City would be folding and that the players would be transferred to the Salt Lake City team. And just 10 days after the initial announcement was made the team made headlines when they secured Laura Harvey as the club’s first-ever head coach.
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Rachel Corsie’s Stoppage-Time Goal Against Portland Thorns
Rachel Corsie made everyone strive to catch their breath on July 19, 2019 when she scored a last-second equalizer against Portland Thorns FC to secure a point in the World Cup return match. Her goal was courtesy of a free kick, taken by Kelley O’Hara, that landed directly at the feet of a sliding Corsie, causing the stands to erupt with shouts and cheers.
