Inaugural 2018 Preseason Roster Sees Addition of
New Zealand WNT defender, Former USWNT Gold Medalist and Pair of NWSL 2014/2015 Champions
SANDY, Utah (Monday, February, 11, 2018) — Utah Royals FC today added four players to its 2018 inaugural preseason roster, as a quartet of accomplished former FC Kansas City members – New Zealand international DF Katie Bowen, former U.S. WNT ‘keeper Nicole Barnhart and 2014/15 NWSL champions Rebecca Moros and Alex Arlitt – have officially joined the club, General Manager Craig Waibel and Head Coach Laura Harvey announced today.
“Continuing to add in experience and quality to our roster was very important when we took over the franchise,” said Harvey, looking forward to convening the full available roster for next Monday’s preseason kickoff at the Zions Bank Training Center in Herriman. “Our aim was always to bring back the core group that know what it takes to be successful in this league.”
Auckland-born DF Katie Bowen enters her third NWSL campaign after becoming one of the youngest players to represent New Zealand at an international level. On her 14th birthday in 2008, Bowen made her international debut, representing New Zealand in the 2007 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. She made her first appearance with the senior team in 2011 against Australia, going on to represent her country in the 2011 and 2014 FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments. She has since appeared in 37 matches for the New Zealand side, scoring one goal. In 2016, FC Kansas City selected Bowen in the NWSL College Draft out of the revered North Carolina Tar Heels program, where she played in 34 games, scoring twice.
Goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart arrives to Utah Royals FC with more than a decade of professional experience. With 54 appearances with the United States Women’s National team, and 108 career starts for FC Kansas City, Barnhart joins the Salt Lake side with two Olympic gold medals (2008, 2012) and 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup runner-up honors. Aside from her numerous years of experience, Barnhart is most widely known for her game-winning penalty save against Canada for the U.S. WNT in the 2008 CONCACAF final. Up until last season, Barnhart owned the NWSL record for most consecutive clean sheets, posting a ten-game shutout streak during the 2013 season. Barnhart was then named the 2013 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year, then winning NWSL titles in 2014 and 2015. Barnhart also rewrote the record book during her time at Stanford University, where she currently holds the Cardinal record for lowest career GAA (Goals Against Average) at just 0.41 per game. Barnhart earned All-Pac-10 conference honors in 2002, 2003, and 2004.
DF Rebecca Moros enters her eighth professional season with extensive experience for Utah. Moros was drafted in the 2009 WPS Draft by the Washington Freedom, where the Duke University product made 21 appearances and logged over 1,000 minutes as a rookie. In a three-year run with the Freedom, Moros played in 68 games, scoring 11 goals. In 2011, Moros was traded to the Western NY Flash, where she appeared in 10 games and helped the team win the WPS title. In 2012, Moros traveled over seas to play for INAC Kobe Leonessa in the Japanese league, where she appeared in 10 matches, and played a prominent role in the midfield. In 2014, the Portland Thorns acquired the rights to Moros, who made 13 starts and played over 1,100 minutes. Moros signed with FC Kansas City in 2015, where she started all 20 regular-season games, winning yet another title.
Former LSU star Alex Arlitt also joins the Utah Royals FC for 2018, entering her third professional season after being drafted by FC Kansas City in the 2016 NWSL College Draft. Arlitt enjoyed one of the most heralded careers as a defender in the history of the LSU soccer program, appearing in 89 matches with 87 starts. She finished her college campaign ranked third in school history for total appearances, and tied for second for career starts. Her teams qualified for two NCAA tournaments, and she was named to the SEC All-Freshman team in 2011.
Player: Katie Bowen
Position: Defender
Height: 5 foot 7.5
Date of Birth: April 15, 1994
Hometown: Auckland, New Zealand
Previous Club: FC Kansas City
Player: Nicole Barnhart
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 5 foot 10
Date of Birth: October 10, 1981
Hometown: Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania
Previous Club: FC Kansas City
Player: Rebecca Moros
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5 foot 5
Date of Birth: May 6, 1985
Hometown: New York, New York
Previous Club: FC Kansas City
Player: Alex Arlitt
Position: Defender
Height: 5 foot 5
Date of Birth: August 25, 1993
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Previous Club: FC Kansas City
Utah Royals FC kick off its inaugural campaign with road games on the weekends of both March 24 and March 31 prior to an international break in early April, finally christening its Rio Tinto Stadium home on Saturday, April 14 at 1:30 p.m. MT (opponent TBD). Season tickets for the 2018 Utah Royals FC season are now on sale via www.RSL.com/NWSL or by calling 844.Real.Tix.
Preparations for the NWSL’s sixth season commence locally in Herriman, Utah one week from today, on February 19, when the club’s available preseason roster convenes for its initial sessions at the world-class Zions Bank Training Center.
