SANDY, Utah – (Saturday, August 3, 2019) – Utah Royals FC (5-6-3, 18 points) fell 2-0 to the Chicago Red Stars at SeatGeek Stadium despite a season-high six saves from GK Nicole Barnhart.
In the fifth minute of the match, league-leading goal scorer Sam Kerr put Chicago in the lead when she capitalized on Barnhart’s first save on her initial shot, pouncing on the rebound to stake the Red Stars to a 1-0 lead.
In the second half Kerr once again slipped through the defense and it looked as if she may get her second of the night, but Barnhart stepped up big, making a full-stretch save to prevent the goal. Royals FC’s best chance at goal came in the 72nd minute when FW Amy Rodriguez blasted a shot toward the top-left corner of the goal, but was denied by Chicago’s goalkeeper Emily Boyd.
Chicago was able to double its lead in the final moments of the match off another rebound from former Utah forward Brooke Elby.
UP NEXT: URFC faces a quick turnaround as they head home to take on Sky Blue FC on Wednesday, August 7 at 8:00 p.m. MT at Rio Tinto Stadium.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
CHI: Sam Kerr 5th minute: Off a cross from Chicago defender Casey Short, forward Sam Kerr sent a hard shot towards goal. GK Nicole Barnhart was able to get a hand on the ball to keep it out of the net on the initial shot, but Kerr quickly pounced on the rebound to put the Red Stars in the lead.
CHI: Brooke Elby 85th minute: Forward Savannah McCaskill made a run down the left side of the field and took a shot off that was saved by GK Nicole Barnhart, but Brooke Elby was able to capitalize on the rebound.
NOTES:
- MF Mallory Weber made her first start at outside back for Utah Royals FC.
- Utah Royals FC were without DF Kelley O’Hara, FW Christen Press and DF Becky Sauerbrunn due to national team duties.
- DF Maddie Nolf made her Royals FC and professional debut.
Match: Utah Royals FC vs. Chicago Red Stars
Date: Aug. 3, 2019
Venue: SeatGeek Stadium; Bridgeview, Illinois
Attendance: 4,335
Weather: Sunny and 80 degrees
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Utah Royals FC 0 0 0
Chicago Red Stars 1 1 2
CHI: Sam Kerr 5’
CHI: Brooke Elby 85’
Lineups:
Utah Royals FC (4-4-2): Nicole Barnhart ©; Mallory Weber (Maddie Nolf 90’), Gaby Vincent, Rachel Corsie, Katie Bowen (Makenzy Doniak 72’); Vero Boquete, Gunny Jonsdottir, Lo’eau LaBonta (Erika Tymrak 77’), Desiree Scott; Amy Rodriguez, Katie Stengel
Subs not used: Abby Smith, Sydney Miramontez, Michelle Maemone, Raisa Strom-Okimoto,
Chicago Red Stars (4-3-3): Emily Boyd; Arin Wright, Katie Naughton, Sarah Gordon, Casey Short; Nikki Stanton, Danille Colaprico (Savannah McCaskill 84’), Vanessa DiBernardo ©, Yuki Nagasato; Katie Johnson (Brooke Elby 78’), Sam Kerr
Subs not used: Mackenzie Arnold, Kayla Sharples, Hannah Davison, Zoey Goralski, Maddie Pokorny
Stats Summary: UTA / CHI
Shots: 15/18
Shots on Goal: 2/8
Saves: 6/2
Corner Kicks: 6/1
Fouls: 6/7
Offside: 0/0
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
UTA: Gunny Johnsdottir (caution) 74’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Matt Franz
Assistant Referees: Brooke Mayo, Melissa Gonzalez
4th Official: Kyle Hannon
