LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (Satuday, April 20, 2024) – Utah Royals FC (1-4-0, 3 pts, 13th NWSL) suffered a third consecutive defeat in its maiden NWSL campaign in a demoralizing 5-1 hammering at the hands of Racing Louisville at Lynn Family Stadium on Saturday, April 20, 2024.
The Royals started the game the slightly better of both teams, with its quick passing and high pressing proving particularly difficult for Louisville to contain. The team’s positive start provided it with an opportunity to take the lead as early as the 11th minute when a through ball from Ally Sentnor released captain Paige Monaghan through on goal on the left hand side, but the 27-year-old arrowed her left footed effort narrowly wide as the scores remained level.
Despite the team’s early game dominance and chances to go ahead, URFC struggled to fully stamp its authority on the game and was punished for its profligacy midway through the first half through a brilliant attacking sequence from the hosts. In the 26th minute, Louisville wingback, Lauren Milliet was released down the right flank with acres of space and delivered a whipped, swerving cross to the back post which was met by teammate, Uchenna Kanu who guided a header past Mandy Haught for her fourth league goal of the season, and to establish a lead for the home side.
URFC subsequently struggled to regain control of the game in the minutes following its concession and was lucky not to have gone behind by more, conceding a flurry of clear-cut chances to its opponents. However, a combination of world class goalkeeping from Haught, and a bit of luck from the cross bar ensured the Royals would remain only a goal down and within touching distance of its opponents with half time on the horizon.
Haught’s goalkeeping heroics would eventually prove crucial in the first half as the Royals, against the run of play and through sheer grit, skill, and determination, managed to grab its equalizer. With the clock ticking precariously towards halftime, fullback, Olivia Griffitts received a through pass in the right half space from teammate, Sentnor, before taking a first touch to evade the challenge of an onrushing defender, and then rifling a right footed effort into the top left corner for her first ever NWSL career goal, to restore parity.
Both sides came out after halftime and into the second half with renewed vigor and determination in search of a win. URFC gradually struggled to maintain its momentum from the end of the first half, conceding possession and chances to its opponents and ultimately fell behind for a second time midway through the half, in the 68th minute. A lobbed pass over the top of the Royals defence found Elexa Bahr whose effort was saved by an onrushing Haught, but the rebound fell easily at the feet of Savannah DeMelo who tapped into an empty net to re-establish a Louisville lead on the afternoon.
Two eventually became three, in the 78th minute, when Louisville was awarded a penalty after Madison Pogarch was judged to have brought down Emma Sears in the penalty area. Up stepped DeMelo and she made no mistake from the spot, sending Haught the wrong way with a cool right footed effort low into the bottom right corner to extend the hosts’ lead.
Things went from bad to worse for the Royals late in the second half as Louisville added a fourth to what was an already impressive scoreline. In the 87th minute, Reilyn Turner rose highest at the back post to head home a cross from Carson Pickett from the left hand side and cap off another fine attacking sequence from the Kentucky-based outfit.
Four then turned to five late on when Sears went on a dazzling dribble deep in the Royals half before taking on and beating URFC rookie Lauren Flynn and rifling a powerful effort into the roof of the net to cap off the afternoon’s goalscoring feats.
URFC upped the ante in the second half in desperate search of a consolation but was ultimately unable to penetrate a determined Louisville defense for a second time, succumbing to a heavy road defeat, and its heaviest loss of its NWSL campaign thus far.
The loss puts the early 2024 Utah Royals season record at 1-4-0. The Royals next return to action in a week’s time at home against the Houston Dash on Saturday, April 27, at America First Field. Kickoff is at 5:30 PM MT, with tickets available at https://www.utahroyals.com/tickets/
LOU 5 : 1 UTA
GOAL-SCORING SUMMARY:
LOU: Uchenna Kanu, 26th Minute (Lauren Milliet): In the 26th minute, Louisville wingback, Lauren Milliet was released down the right flank with acres of space and delivered a whipped, swerving cross to the backpost which was met by teammate, Uchenna Kanu who guided a header past Mandy Haught for her fourth league goal of the season.
UTA: Olivia Griffitts, 45th+3 Minute (Ally Sentnor): Fullback, Olivia Griffiths received a through pass in the right half space from teammate Ally Sentnor, before taking a touch first to evade the challenge of an onrushing defender, and then rifling a right footed effort into the top left corner for her first ever NWSL career goal, to restore parity.
LOU: Savannah DeMelo, 68th Minute: A lobbed pass over the top of the Royals defence found Elexa Bahr whose effort was saved by an onrushing Haught, but the rebound fell easily at the feet of Savannah DeMelo who tapped into an empty net to re-establish a Louisville lead on the afternoon.
LOU: Savannah DeMelo, 78th Minute (Penalty): After Madison Pogarch was judged to have brought down Emma Sears in the penalty area, up stepped DeMelo and she made no mistake from the spot, sending Haught the wrong way with a cool right footed effort low into the bottom right corner to extend the hosts’ lead.
LOU: Reilyn Turner, 87th minute (Carson Pickett): In the 87th minute, a cross from Carson Pickett from the left hand side found Reilyn Turner who rose highest at the back post to guide a header past Mandy Haught for the hosts’ fourth goal of the afternoon.
LOU: Emma Sears, 90th+1 minute (Marisa DiGrande): Emma Sears went on a dazzling dribble deep in the Royals half before taking on and beating URFC defender, Lauren Flynn and rifling a powerful effort into the roof of the net to cap off the afternoon’s goalscoring feats.
NOTES:
- Olivia Griffitts goal in first half injury time represented her first ever NWSL career goal, coming in just her fourth appearance for URFC
- Five rookies started this match (Ally Sentnor, Brecken Mozingo, Zoe Burns, Olivia Griffitts, Lauren Flynn
LINEUPS:
Utah Royals (4-3-3): Mandy Haught; Olivia Griffitts, Kate Del Fava, Lauren Flynn, Madison Pogarch; Zoe Burns (Michele Vasconcelos, 79’), Mikayla Cluff, Ally Sentnor; Brecken Mozingo, Hannah Betfort, Paige Monaghan ©
Subs not used: Carly Nelson, Addisyn Merrick, Cristina Roque, Cameron Tucker
Racing Louisville (4-2-3-1): Katie Lund; L. Milliet, A. Wright, A. Erceg, C. Pickett; T. Flint, J. Howell, A. Alves Borges (Emma Sears, 54’), S. DeMelo (Marisa DiGrande, 85’), U. Kanu (Reilyn Turner, 54’); E. Bahr (Kayla Fischer, 74’)
Subs not used: Jordyn Bloomer, Parker Goins, Ellie Jean, Linda Motlhalo, Maddie Pokorny
Stats Summary: UTA / LOU
Shots: 9 / 18
Shots on Goal: 2 / 10
Saves: 6 / 1
Corner Kicks: 3 / 7
Fouls: 14 / 16
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
UTA: Yellow (Lauren Flynn, 72’). 14 Total Fouls
LOU: Yellow (L. Milliet, 13’); Yellow (S. DeMelo, 37’). 16 Total Fouls
