HERRIMAN, Utah (Friday, March 29, 2024) - Utah Royals FC (1-1-0, 3 pts, 8th NWSL) hit the road this weekend for the first time this season, traveling to face the Washington Spirit (1-1-0, 3 pts, 6th NWSL) this Sunday, March 31, at 11:00a MT / 1:00p ET at Audi Field.
Last week, Utah Royals FC notched its first win of the season, defeating North Carolina Courage, 2-1, at home behind goals from rookie Ally Sentnor and Kate Del Fava, combined with a penalty save from goalkeeper Mandy Haught.
Having secured the first win of the new era, URFC Head Coach Amy Rodriguez’ squad will look to build upon the Club’s first victory of the new iteration. Goalkeeping star Haught will look to continue her stellar form as the defense prepares without outside back Imani Dorsey, who ruptured her achilles tendon late in the first half of last week’s win against North Carolina. DF Addisyn Merrick stepped up to fill the hole on Saturday, but newly signed outside back Olivia Griffitts could also get a look after impressing Rodriguez and her staff during preseason.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
WATCH LIVE on KMYU with David James & Brian Dunseth :: Utah Royals FC vs. Washington Spirit | Audi Field | 11:00 a.m. MT | KMYU (2.2 over air / 12 satellite / 643 Comcast HD) _
OR
LISTEN via KSL Sports Radio (97.5 FM / 1280 FM) with John Paul Chunga & Carla Haslam starting at 11:00 a.m. MT
With two matches under the Club’s collective belt, Utah Royals FC has now won and lost in decidedly different manners. The first home match featured a dominant showing with an impressive xG of 2.2, with nearly 67% possession and high-volume, high-percentage passing numbers (81% passing accuracy of 552 passes attempted) that ended in an 0-2 loss, while the Club’s second home match resulted in a win despite a primarily defensive performance. The Royals’ possession-based intent will look to dictate the pace of the game on Sunday, as Washington seeks back-to-back wins against the 2024 expansion sides, as its victory last weekend over Bay FC saw the Spirit own a 2.0 xG with only 45% of the ball.
Following Sunday’s road match, Utah Royals FC and the entire NWSL enjoys a bye week due to the FIFA international break before returning home to America First Field on Saturday, April 12 against the visiting Orlando Pride (7:30p MT kickoff; tickets available at https://www.rsl.com/utahroyals/tickets/). With five of its first seven matches this season at home, the Royals will then hit the road again on April 20, making its maiden voyage to Kentucky to face Racing Louisville FC that Sunday at 3:00p MT at Lynn Family Stadium.
