Player Spotlight | Lacasse Shatters Records, Delzer Shines in Dominant 5-1 Win Over Portland

After conceding the fastest goal of the NWSL season, Utah Royals FC fought back to make a statement win Sunday night, beating Portland Thorns FC 5-1 at America First Field. Five goals was the most Utah has scored in a game in history, sending a message to the other top teams in the league that the Royals are here to stay. 

Sunday was a historic night not only for the Club but for several players, with numerous records being broken and milestones reached against the Thorns.

Cloé Lacasse Makes Royals History

At 10 G/A, Cloé Lacasse entered Sunday’s encounter tied for Utah’s single-season goal contributions record with two-time World Cup winner Christen Press (2019). After Sophia Wilson scored for Portland within the first 40 seconds, fans began to think it could be a long game for the home side, but after the first cooling break in the 100 degree Utah sun, the momentum shifted. After Cece Delzer found an equalizer in the 36th minute, the Royals couldn’t be stopped. Dominating her left flank with her intelligence, skill and accurate crossing, Lacasse went on to provide three assists in the match, finding Delzer for the go-ahead goal as well as assisting goals from Brecken Mozingo and Kate Del Fava.

With her stellar showing on Sunday, Lacasse became Utah’s all-time leader in goal contributions, recording 19 in her three seasons with the Club. Additionally, she became the Royals’ leader in single-season goal contributions, having scored or assisted 13 times (6G 7A) in 18 games this year. Anyone who watches the Royals would be able to identify that Lacasse is not only one of the most dangerous attacking players on the team, but in the entire NWSL. The stats back it up, and Lacasse’s 13 goal contributions is tied for the league lead with world-class players Orlando Pride’s Barbra Banda and Washington Spirit’s Trinity Rodman. 

Seemingly, every time Lacasse touched the ball on Sunday she broke another record. Lacasse’s final assist, a corner kick cross to Kate Del Fava at the back post, was her eighth as a Royal, extending her Club-record total and moving her further ahead of Gunny Jónsdóttir (6) and Veronica "Vero" Boquete (6). The goal was also Utah’s sixth from a corner this year, the most by any NWSL team this season.

As she lit up Utah’s record books, Lacasse also made her mark in NWSL history. On Sunday, she became only the second player in league history to record three assists in a single half, and the eighth to record three assists in a regular season match. While Lacasse doesn’t enjoy being the center of attention, she had no choice but to accept her flowers for a truly spectacular performance against Portland.

Delzer Leads As Royals’ Scorers Hit Several Milestones

Four different scorers got on the board on Sunday as the Royals set a new single match goal record. Leading the charge for the Royals was Cece Delzer, who scored Utah’s first two goals in the 36th and 47th minutes —her first career brace— to reclaim the lead over the Thorns. Delzer showcased her clinical scoring ability on both goals, chipping the keeper after a pass from Kiana Palacios for the first and scoring with a one-time finish off a cross from Lacasse for her second.

Delzer has been on fire since the return from the international break and has proven to be one of the Royals’ most effective offensive contributors. With her two goals on Sunday she is up to four on the season, all of which have come after the mid-season pause. With four goals, Delzer is also tied for second in the NWSL in goals scored since July 1st, trailing only Trinity Rodman’s five. Delzer has continued to grow into the season, and if she is able to continue to replicate this performance that earned her Player of the Game honors, the Royals’ attack will be hard to stop. 

With each new goal scorer, the Royals kept hitting milestones. In the 68th minute after receiving a ball from Lacasse, Brecken Mozingo became Utah’s 11th goalscorer of the season with a curling left-footed shot to the far post. Mozingo’s goal was Utah’s third in this NWSL season from a substitute, demonstrating the squad’s reliability and depth that has been crucial to this historic start. In the 79th, Palacios scored with a masterful backheel finish after a cross from Miyabi, making it the first time she has scored and assisted in the same match with Utah. To close out the game, Kate Del Fava scored with a header at the back post in the 89th, scoring her second goal in three games. 

Sunday was as complete a performance as you could get, and a crucial step in a playoff race against one of the league’s best teams. With anyone able to score and assist, it's no wonder the Royals have scored 31 goals this year, the most in the NWSL and the most in a single season in Club history. 

Highly motivated and ready to make a push for the top of the table, the Royals are back on the road this week to face Lindsey Heaps and Denver Summit FC in the second edition of a new rivalry. Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m. MT on Saturday, August 8 from Centennial Stadium, with the match available to stream on ION.