Fast Facts: Cloé Lacasse

Utah Royals FC welcomes Cloé Lacasse to the Beehive state from across the pond!

Here are three fast facts about our new addition:

1. Prolific Striker

In 193 professional appearances Lacasse has found the goal 132 times. The crafty forward has a 0.68 goal per game ratio. During her time in college, she tied the school record with 112 points (43 goals and 26 assists) at Iowa. The Canadian ranked second all-time in goals (43), game winning goals (13), and assists (26), as well as tying for first in shots with 306.

Since leaving the college game, she has made 266 appearances across all competitions for ÍBV, Benfica and Arsenal, scoring 178 goals. The forward won the Campeonato Nacional Femenino Golden Boot award twice during her time in Portugal (2020, 2023) and was also named Campeonato Nacional Femenino Player of the Year in 2023.

2. Dual-Nationality

Born in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, Lacasse attended a Canada U20 training camp in 2012 but failed to make the team’s final roster for their matches.

After playing four years for ÍBV with no Canadian call ups, it seemed like Lacasse’s international career with Canada was coming to an end. Living in Iceland for four years was enough to secure Icelandic citizenship. After obtaining citizenship in 2019 Iceland national team head coach Jon Hauksson stated that Lacasse would be considered for a call-up for Iceland's upcoming games. Lacasse applied to FIFA and UEFA to be eligible to represent but her application was denied in July 2020 as it was ruled she did not meet FIFA’s Residency requirements to be eligible to represent a new national association.

She has since been named to Canada’s 2022 CONCACAF Women’s Championship, 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and 2024 Paris Olympic squads.

3. Champions league

UEFA Women’s Champions League is the highest stage of club competition on the European continent. Lacasse becomes the third Royal on this current squad to have participated in the competition joining the likes of Amandine Henry and Claudia Zornoza. While playing for Benfica in the 2021 UEFA Women’s Champions League Lacasse became the first player to score a goal for a Portuguese club in the group stage, scoring the opening goal in a 2-1 victory over BK Häcken. She has 12 Champions League goals to her name across 26 appearances.