America First Field, home of Utah Royals FC and Real Salt Lake, is set to welcome the United States Women’s National Team as it faces Colombia on Thursday, October 26 at 7:00 p.m. MT, presented by the Utah Sports Commission Tickets will be made available via www.USSoccer.com, while the match will be viewable via TBS, Universo and Peacock.
Rosters for both teams have been announced, and fans will have a wealth of talent to watch take the field on Thursday. Here are five names to keep an eye on as you enjoy the match this week.
Ashley Hatch: Soccer fans in Utah will need no introduction to Ashley Hatch. The former Brigham Young University standout scored 47 goals in 75 appearances for the Cougars during her time in college. Since going pro in 2017, she’s scored 36 goals for both the North Carolina Courage and Washington Spirit, as well as 20 appearances for the USWNT with five goals for her country. This season, the Washington Spirit star finished third in the National Women’s Soccer League golden boot race with nine. Hatch has also served as an assistant coach at Utah Valley University and has trained in the state during her off-seasons before. Come see a Utah legend take the field in the state that helped make her who she is.
Linda Caicedo: One of the world's brightest prospects, Linda Caicedo has taken the soccer landscape by storm in 2023. After signing for Real Madrid in Liga F in February of this year, she burst onto the scene during Colombia’s World Cup run during the summer. Only 18-years-old, she became the first ever player to compete in three Women’s World Cups (U-17,U-20, Senior Level) within a year. She wasn’t just there to sit on the bench either, she became the second youngest woman (behind Brazilian legend Marta) to score in the World Cup, and her game-winning goal against Germany sealed a massive upset for Colombia. You won’t want to miss watching one of the world’s brightest stars take the stage in Utah.
Olivia Moultrie: Born in Salt Lake City, but raised in California, Thursday will be a homecoming of sorts for the youngest player on the USWNT roster, Olivia Moultrie. The 18 year old has had a stellar 2023 NWSL campaign, helping her Club, the Portland Thorns, reach the semifinals of the NWSL playoffs. Moultrie made headlines in 2021 when she became the youngest ever player to sign a professional contract in the NWSL. She then made her debut in July of that year, and a month later recorded her first assist. Then the following season, she scored her first NWSL goal, becoming the youngest player in the history of the league to score a league goal. This is Moultrie’s first USWNT call up, and what better place to make it, then in the state she was born.
Ana Maria Guzmán: Caicedo isn’t the only young talent coming out of Colombia. Ana Maria Guzmán, now 18-years-old, made her first senior appearance for the Colombian National Team at the age of 16. Guzman joined Caicedo at the 2023 Women’s World Cup and played in two games, as the young tandem helped their country reach the quarterfinals. Guzman assisted the game winning goal in Colombia’s round of 16 victory against Jamaica, and her play in the tournament impressed enough to earn her a move to European giants Bayern Munich in September.
Becky Sauerbrunn: Former Utah Royals Captain and current USWNT captain Becky Sauerbrunn needs no introduction, but here is one anyway. Two time World Cup winner, three time NWSL Champion, Olympic Gold Medalist and four time NWSL Defender of the Year, Sauerbrunn has done and seen it all. 216 appearances for the USWNT later, and she’ll make her 217 appearance wearing the captain’s armband again in the stadium she used to play in. Sauerbrunn spent two years with the Royals in 2018, and 2019 before being traded to the Portland Thorns in 2020. Royals fans won’t want to miss this opportunity to welcome back their former captain for the first time to the great state of Utah.
