SANDY, Utah (Thursday, July 16, 2020) – Utah Royals FC (1-2-1, 4 points) enters the quarterfinal stage of the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup presented by P&G and Secret on Friday, July 17 when it faces the Houston Dash. The match will kick off at 8:00 p.m. MT at Zions Bank Stadium and will be streamed live on the CBS All-Access Platform and can be heard locally on the radio on ESPN700.
Friday’s match will see the two sides meet for the second time in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup as the teams clashed for 3-3 draw in both team’s opening match of the tournament. In the first meeting, midfielder Diana Matheson’s early goal was cancelled out by a brace from Rachel Daly and a goal from Shea Groom as Houston took a 3-1 lead. Utah stormed back late in the match as midfielder Vero Boquete cut the lead in half before a last-gasp header from rookie Tziarra King forced the teams to split the spoils in Herriman.
When facing Houston, URFC holds a 3-2-2 record, having scored 10 goals across seven games since 2018, the second-most against any team in the league. However, Utah has allowed nine goals, also tied for the second-most against any team.
How to Follow Utah Royals FC vs. Houston Dash – Friday, July 17, 2020
·Coverage Begins: 8:00 p.m. MT
·Local TV: N/A
·Digital Streaming: CBS All-Access
·English Radio: ESPN700
·Spanish TV: N/A
Game Notes for Friday’s UTA v. HOU game Available Online
Those seeking the Adobe PDF version of the Game Guide in advance of Friday’s contest between Utah Royals FC and Houston Dash can be found here. Media members looking to receive the document as an attachment or have further questions are asked to please contact Meg Van Dyk in the URFC Communications Department via email at meg.vandyk@rsl.com.
URFC sees 20 players from its 2019 roster return to the club for the tournament, led by veteran striker and 2019 team-golden boot winner Amy Rodriguez. She is joined by goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart as well as the defensive core of Rachel Corsie, Katie Bowen and Kelley O’Hara along the backline. In the midfield, URFC will see Vero Boquete return for her second season in Utah alongside Gunny Jonsdottir and Desiree Scott. Joining Rodriguez to spearhead the attack is Brittany Ratcliffe who returns to action after missing the 2019 season due to injury alongside newcomer Arielle Ship.
URFC will be without forward Christen Press as she chose to opt out of the tournament.
New faces join the squad for the condensed 2020 season as 2020 NWSL Draft picks Tziarra King and Kate Del Fava. A two-sport athlete at Penn State University, Marissa Sheva will feature on the roster for URFC after spending the early part of the 2020 season in the Spanish second division with Deportivo Alavés. Aminata Diallo also joins the club on loan from French side, Paris Staint-Germain.
