UTAH ROYALS FC...Utah Royals FC is set to face Sky Blue FC on Saturday, July 4 in an Independence Day clash for each team’s second match in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup presented

ROYALS FC SKY BLUE FC

0-0-1, 1 POINT

VS.

MATCH INFORMATIONDATE: FRIDAY, JULY 4KICKOFF: 10:30 A.M. MTLOCATION: ZIONS BANK STADIUM; HERRIMAN, UTAHFORECAST: SUNNY AND 80 DEGREES REFEREE: ASSISTANT REFEREES: FOURTH OFFICIAL: TV: N/ASTREAMING: CBS ALL ACCESSENGLISH RADIO: ESPN 700 SPANISH RADIO: N/A

2020 SCHEDULEDATETUES. JUNE 30

SAT. JULY 4

WED. JULY 8

SAT. JULY 12

FRI. JULY 17/ SAT. JULY 18

WED. JULY 22

SUN. JULY 26

OPPONENT@HOUSTON

@SKY BLUE FC

OL REIGN

CHICAGO

QUARTERFINAL

SEMIFINAL

FINAL

TIME/RESULTD, 3-3

10:30A MT

10:30A MT

10:30A MT

10:30A MTROYALS FC COMMUNICATIONS

MATT GASCHK, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONSE: [email protected] C: (253) 250-3239

TARAN MEYER, SENIOR MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONSE: [email protected] C: (801) 657-2161

MATCH PREVIEWUtah Royals FC is set to face Sky Blue FC on Saturday, July 4 in an Independence Day clash for each team’s second match in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup presented by P&G and Secret. The match will kick off at 10:30a MT at Zions Bank Stadium and will be streamed live on the CBS All-Access Platform and broadcast locally on the radio on ESPN700.

After a spirited come-from-behind draw against the Hous-ton Dash to open the tournament, Royals FC now looks to build on its first performance under Head Coach Craig Harrington. In its match against Houston, midfielder Diana Matheson notched a goal on her return to the field after missing the 2019 season due to an injury, while midfielder Vero Boquete scored her first goal in a URFC jersey. It was rookie striker Tziarra King who played the hero when she notched her first professional goal in her first professional appearance to draw the match level and help the club to a point from its opening match.

Against Sky Blue FC, URFC holds a dominant all-time ad-vantage over the Dash, carrying a 4-1-1 (13 points) record since 2018. The two sides met in August of last season at Rio Tinto Stadium where the home side claimed an emphat-ic 3-0 victory over the visitors.

UTAH ROYALS FC2020 GAME NOTES

0-0-1, 1 POINT

ALL-TIME VS OPPONENTSERIES RECORD:ALL-TIME: 4-1-1 HOME: 3-0-0 AWAY: 1-1-1LEADERS: LAST MEETING:UTAH ROYALS FC 3, SKY BLUE FC 0 - AUGUST 7, 2019

LAST TIME VS OPPONENTThe last meeting between the two sides came in August of 2019 where Utah Royals FC claimed a dominant 3-0 victory at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Forward Christen Press notched the brace before Amy Rodriguez added the insurance goal in the win. Goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart earned the shutout in goal for URFC.

LAST MATCH RECAPUtah Royals FC (0-0-1, 1 point) scored first, but needed two late goals to earn a 3-3 draw with the Houston Dash in Utah’s first match of the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup presented by P&G and Secret.

Diana Matheson scored in her return to the pitch after missing the 2019 sea-son to injury, then Vero Boquete and Tziarra King scored in the game’s final seven minutes to see Utah come back from a 3-1 deficit to earn a point in the club’s first match of the tournament.

Utah got out to an early lead on Matheson’s first goal of the tournament. Lo’eau LaBonta led Amy Rodriguez into the box and Rodriguez crossed to Matheson for a first-time shot for the 1-0 lead in the 35th minute. Just before halftime, Houston equalized on a goal from Rachel Daly as the Dash forward gathered the ball and smashed a half-volley into the net to send the match into halftime at 1-1.

Daly would add a second just after halftime, getting on the end of a corner kick to make it 2-1 in the 47th minute. Shea Groom doubled the lead to 3-1 in the 67th minute, setting the stage for Utah’s comeback effort. In the 83rd minute, Boquete notched her first URFC goal off a free kick to narrow the margin to 3-2. Then King scored in her professional debut.

CHALLENGE CUP STORYLINESBack in ActionWith COVID-19 delaying the start to the 2020 season, Utah Royals FC is now set to host the 2020 NWSL Chal-lenge Cup presented by P&G and Secret. Home-field ad-vantage will be key to URFC’s success in the tournament that will make up the 2020 season. With seven possible matches up for grabs for any team in the tournament field, a deep roster, fitness and quality performances will be key in crowning the eventual champion.

2020 URFC RosterThe Utah Royals FC roster to compete in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup presented by P&G and Secret features 28 players available to Craig Harrington for selection.

URFC sees 20 players from its 2019 roster return to the club ahead of the tournament, led by veteran striker Amy Rodriguez. She is joined by goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart as well as the defensive core of Rachel Corsie, Katie Bowen and Kelley O’Hara along the backline. In the mid-field, URFC will see Vero Boquete return for her second season in Utah alongside Gunny Jonsdottir and Desiree Scott. Joining Rodriguez to spearhead the attack is Brit-tany Ratcliffe who returns to action after missing the 2019 season due to injury alongside newcomer Arielle Shipp.

New faces join the squad for the condensed 2020 sea-son as 2020 NWSL Draft picks Tziarra King and Kate Del Fava look set to make their professional debuts in Utah. A two-sport athlete at Penn State University, Marissa Sheva will feature on the roster for URFC after spending the ear-ly part of the 2020 season in the Spanish second division with Deportivo Alavés. Aminata Diallo is expected to join the team this week.

Harrington’s First Season

Harrington, 37, joins Utah after serving as the first assis-tant for the Chicago Red Stars. During two seasons with Chicago, Harrington helped coach the team to a 23-12-13 record with back-to-back appearances in the National Women’s Soccer League Playoffs, including the club’s highest finish as the 2019 runners-up. Additionally, during Harrington’s tenure, former Red Stars forward Sam Kerr won back-to-back Golden Boot awards and was voted the 2019 NWSL Most Valuable Player. Before coaching in the NWSL, Harrington served as the Technical Di-rector and Head Coach for the Turks and Caicos Men’s National Team where he helped elevate the squad to its highest-ever FIFA Ranking, jumping 27 spots in just five months.


INJURY REPORTOUT: Kelley O’Hara (L quad); Desiree Scott (personal)

QUESTIONABLE: N/A

PROBABLE:N/A

INTERNATIONAL DUTY: N/A

2020 NWSL STANDINGSNO. 12345678

TEAMNC COURAGEWASHINGTONUTAH ROYALS FCHOUSTON DASHOL REIGNSKY BLUE FCPORTLANDCHICAGO

PTS63111100

GP22111122

W-L-T2-0-01-1-00-0-10-0-10-0-10-0-10-1-10-1-1

2020 NWSL LEADERS - GOALSNO. 123

NAME GPTEAM GOALS

2020 NWSL LEADERS - ASSISTSNO. 123

NAME GPTEAM

A

2020 NWSL LEADERS - SAVESNO. 123

NAME GPTEAM SAVES

ALL-TIME REGULAR SEASON

TEAM ORLANDOHOUSTONCHICAGONORTH CAROLINAPORTLANDWASHINGTONSKY BLUEOL REIGN

TOTAL:

GP67666666

48

W-L-T3-1-23-2-32-4-01-2-31-2-34-1-14-1-11-4-1

19-17-13

GF7104555114

51

GA398810257

52

-- OVERALL --+/-+4+1-4-3-5+3+4-3

-1


TOTAL:

GP33333333

24

W-L-T2-1-02-1-02-1-00-2-11-0-23-0-03-0-00-2-1

13-7-4

GF34314470

26

GA23253013

19

+/-+1+1+1-4+1+4+6-3

+7


TOTAL:

GP34333333

25

W-L-T2-0-12-1-30-3-01-0-20-2-11-1-11-1-11-2-0

8-11-8

GF46150244

26

GA16636244

32

+/-+3

=-5+2-6===

-5

-- HOME --

-- AWAY --

ALL-TIME YEAR-BY-YEAR

TEAM 201820192020TOTAL:

PTS3534170

W-L-T9-7-810-10-40-0-119-17-13

GF2225347

GA2325348

-- OVERALL --

+/-+1

==

-1-- HOME --

-- AWAY --

TEAM 201820192020TOTAL:

PTS1922

41

W-L-T5-3-47-4-1

11-7-5

GF1115

26

GA712

29

+/-+4+2

+6

TEAM 201820192020TOTAL:

PTS1612129

W-L-T4-4-43-6-30-0-17-10-8

GF1110324

GA1613332

+/--5-3=

-8


GF42330011

GA113 30022

*As of JuLY, 2, 2020

ALL-TIME INDIVIDUAL CURRENT PLAYER STATISTICS#72162#38292339241219102252325811301713142042

POSDMDDMMMMFMDMDMDDFFFMMFMDFF

PLAYERELIZABETH BALLVERO BOQUETEKATIE BOWENRACHEL CORSIEHOLLY DAUGIRDAAMINATA DIALLOKATE DEL FAVAGUNNY JONSDOTTIRTZIARRA KINGLO’EAU LABONTATAYLOR LEACHTAYLOR LYTLEMICHELLE MAEMONEDIANA MATHESONMADDIE NOLFKELLEY O’HARACHRISTEN PRESSBRITTANY RATCLIFFEAMY RODRIGUEZDESIREE SCOTTMARISSA SHEVAARIELLE SHIPCHESTLEY STROTHERGABBY VINCENTMALLORY WEBERRAISA STROM-OKIMOTO

GP122394300149139011822112251144380009194

GS120344300044031046190925541370007131

MIN9017203000388800274043202772047644314841759223043634813340000688124480

G0101000212000301102140000000

A07110005020211014020000010

SHT081319000451220111301489310630000102

SOG0466000101120108074335210000121

CK02200000701200070058010000400

FC0212123001620340141304953920000031

FS129122200010503100015015113237000401

OFF000000012010104002102912000000

C20150005010012001222000020

E00000000000000000000000000

INT’L

NZSCOT

FRAN

ICL

CAN

USAUSA

CAN

#11861

POSGKGKGK

PLAYERABBY SMITHNICOLE BARNHART MELISSA LOWDER

GP18320

GS18310

MIN178226200

SHTS872720

SV37710

GA23250

MILESTONE TRACKERMILESTONE

APPERANCES:

GOALS:

ASSISTS:

PLAYER

NICOLE BARNHARTTAYLOR LYTLE

CHRISTEN PRESSAMY RODRIGUEZKELLEY O’HARA

KELLEY O’HARACHRISTEN PRESSVERO BOQUETE

NWSL

13993

453416

161013

URFC

3111

10141

147

*As of July 2, 2020

TEAM OF THE MONTH AWARD

GOAL OF THE WEEK:

SAVE OF THE WEEK:


INDIVIDUAL AWARDSPLAYER OF THE WEEK:

PLAYER OF THE MONTH:

2020 ALPHABETICAL ROSTER#71821623338296639246112191022523258113017142131420

POSDFGKMFDFDFMFMFDFMFFWMFDFGKFWDFFWDFDFFWFWFWMFDFFWGKFWMFDFFW

PLAYERELIZABETH BALLNICOLE BARNHARTVERO BOQUETEKATIE BOWENRACHEL CORSIEHOLLY DAUGIRDAAMINATA DIALLOKATE DEL FAVAGUNNY JONSDOTTIRTZIARRA KINGLO’EAU LABONTATAYLOR LEACHMELISSA LOWDERTAYLOR LYTLEMICHELLE MAEMONEDIANA MATHESONMADELINE NOLFKELLEY O’HARACHRISTEN PRESSBRITTANY RATCLIFFEAMY RODRIGUEZDESIREE SCOTTMARISSA SHEVAARIELLE SHIPABBY SMITHRAISA STROM-OKIMOTOCHESTLEY STROTHERGABY VINCENTMALLORY WEBER

HT5-65-105-45-75-9

5-45-95-55-85-25-105-85-25-75-05-35-55-75-45-45-25-35-75-95-35-65-65-6

D.O.B10/20/199510/10/198104/09/198704/15/199408/17/198912/24/199704/03/199507/23/199809/28/198808/24/199803/18/199301/19/199201/21/199703/31/198903/18/199704/06/198403/29/199608/04/198812/29/198802/07/199402/17/198707/31/198704/22/199705/02/199510/04/199310/25/199706/13/199412/07/199704/04/1994

HOMETOWNNEWPORT NEWS, VAGILBERTSVILLE, PASANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELAAUCKLAND, NEW ZEALANDABERDEEN, SCOTLANDSALT LAKE CITY, UTGRENOBLE, FRANCEKENOSHA, WIGAROABAER, ICELANDSICKLERVILLE, NJRANCHO CUCAMONGO, CAMAUMEE, OHSAN DIEGO, CALAS CRUCES, NMSAN JOSE, CAONTARIO, CANADAOMAHA, NEFAYETTEVILLE, GALOS ANGELES, CAWILLIAMSTOWN, NJLAKE FOREST, CAWINNIPEG, CANADASELLERSVILLE, PAWESTELAKE VILLAGE, CAPLANO, TX‘AIEA, O’AHU, HIWHITEHOUSE, TXCOLUMBIA, MDNOVI, MI

STATUS------INT-SPNINT-NZLINT-SCOSTINTLCDPINT-ICLCDP---------SUPFED-CANSUPFED-USAFED-USA---------FED-CANST---------------

COLLEGEPENN STATEVIRGINIA---NORTH CAROLINA---UTAH---ILLINOIS STATE---NC STATESTANFORDSOUTH CAROLINASANTA CLARATEXAS TECHPEPPERDINEPRINCETONPENN STATESTANFORDSTANFORDVIRGIIAUSCMANITOBAPENN STATECAL BERKELYTEXASHAWAIIUT-TYLERLOUISVILLEPENN STATE


* Forward Christen Press elected not to participate in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup.

GOALKEEPER1 DEFENDER2 RACHELCORSIE

ABBYSMITH

Height: 5’ 9”Birth Date: October 4, 1993 Birthplace: Portland, Oregon College: Texas

Smith, 26, was picked fifth in the 2016 NWSL College Draft, by the Boston Breakers, where she made 21 appearances. Smith also wore the US crest for several years as a member of the U-17, U-20, and U-23 teams, and was rostered on the senior side in May 2017 for friendlies against Sweden and Norway. A Plano native, she earned over 72 caps for the Texas Longhorns, where she finished her college career ranked first in the Big 12 Conference for 96 total saves, with a 5.33 saves-per-match. Her 30th career shutout in 2015 set a new school career shut out record.

Height: 5’ 9”Birth Date: August 17, 1989 Birthplace: Aberdeen, Scotland College: N/A

Corsie signed with URFC ahead of the 2018 season and immediately became a staple in backline. In 2018, she started 23 of her 24 matches played and registered one assist and was named to the NWSL Team of the Month for July. In 2019, she appeared in 19 matches, scored one goal. In 2019 she captained Scotland in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.


FORWARD3 TZIARRAKING

Nickname: “Z”Height: 5’ 8”Birth Date: August 8, 1998 Birthplace: Sicklerville, New Jersey College: NC State

King was selected eighth overall and was Utah’s first ever first round selection in the College Draft after trading the pick in each of the club’s first two seasons. The forward capped her senior season at North Carolina State with 13 goals in 23 appearances in 2019. In four years at NC State, King notched 48 goals in 88 appear-ances. The Sicklerville, New Jersey, native was a regular on the All-ACC first and second teams from her sopho-more to senior years and earned academic accolades in all four years at NC State.

5 KELLEYO’HARA

Height: 5’ 5”Birth Date: August 4, 1988 Birthplace: Fayetteville, GeorgiaCollege: Stanford

The USWNT star signed with URFC ahead of its first year in the NWSL in 2018 and scored her first goal in a URFC kit in May 2018 against the Washington Spirit. The defender featured in eight matches for URFC in 2018. In 2019 O’Hara played significant minutes for the World Cup-winning USWNT and registered one assist in four appearances in 2019. She was named to the NWSL Best XI Second Team.

DEFENDER

7DEFENDER6

FORWARD8 AMYRODRIGUEZ

KATIEBOWEN

ELIZABETHBALL

Height: 5’6”Birth Date: 10/20/1995 Birthplace: Newport News, VirginiaCollege: Penn State

Ball, 24, has made 23 appearances for Portland Thorns in her two-year professional career, 16 of which were made during her sophomore season. After going un-drafted in the 2019 NWSL College Draft Ball received a preseason invite and soon signed a contract with the Thorns.

Height: 5’ 7”Birth Date: April 15, 1994 Birthplace: Auckland, New Zealand College: North Carolina

Bowen, 26, is amongst the youngest players to repre-sent New Zealand at an international level. She made her first appearance with the senior team in 2011 against Australia, also playing in the 2011 and 2014 FIFA Wom-en’s World Cup. 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, where she played in 34 games on the back line, scoring two goals.

Nickname: “A-Rod”Height: 5’ 4”Birth Date: February 17, 1987 Birthplace: Lake Forest, California College: USC

In 2018, ‘A-Rod’ started in 16 of her 19 appearances for URFC and played 1,301 minutes and finished the season with four goals and one assist. In 2019, she led the team in scoring with nine goals and appeared in all 24 match-es.

DEFENDER


9 LO’EAULABONTA

Nickname: “Lo”Height: 5’ 2”Birth Date: March 18, 1993 Birthplace: Rancho Cucamonga, CA College: Stanford

Having a breakout year in 2019, Labonta registered a career-high two goals and two assists and was named to the NWSL Team of the Month for August. In 2018, she started eight of her 16 appearances for URFC.

MIDFIELDER

10 11

12

MIDFIELDER

DESIREESCOTT

DIANAMATHESON

Height: 5’ 0”Birth Date: April 6, 1984Birthplace: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada College: Princeton

Matheson, 36, A key player for the Canadian Women’s side, Matheson totals 169 caps for the senior team, scor-ing 16 goals in international tournaments. Best known for scoring the bronze medal-winning goal for Canada in the 92nd minute against France at the 2012 Olym-pics, Matheson has scored 23 goals in the NWSL since 2013. Matheson also won gold in the 2011 Pan American Games, and a bronze in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Nickname: “The Destroyer” Height: 5’ 2”Birth Date: July 31, 1987 Birthplace: Winnipeg, Canada College: Manitoba

A midfield disruptor, Scott signed with Royals FC in 2018 and started 20 of her 21 appearances while playing 1,810 minutes. In 2019 aside from representing Canada at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, she started and played in 17 matches for URFC.

Height: 5’ 2”Birth Date: March 31, 1989 Birthplace: Las Cruces, New Mexico College: Texas Tech

In her first year with URFC, Lytle featured in 10 matches and started four of those matches. She missed the 2019 season due to injury.

MIDFIELDER

TAYLORLYTLE

MIDFIELDER


13Height: 5’6”Birth Date: June 13, 1994 Birthplace: Whitehouse, Texas College: UT Tyler Strother enters her first year with URFC in unique fash-ion having played the last three season in Scandanavia. During her college career at UT Tyler, she registered 32 assists and scored 27 goals in 74 matches played.

CHESTLEYSTROTHERMIDFIELDER

14 GABYVINCENT

Height: 5’ 6”Birth Date: December 7, 1997 Birthplace: Columbia, Maryland College: Louisville

After finishing her college career at the University of Louisville, Vincent was a non-roster invitee to URFC’s 2019 preseason camp and secured a spot on the supple-mental roster. Vincent appeared and started in all 54 of her match appearances with the Cradinals, earning a to-tal of six goals, and three assists in her collegiate career.

DEFENDER


17ARIELLESHIP

Height: 5’7”Birth Date: May 2, 1995 Birthplace: Westlake Village, California College: UC Berkely

Entering her fourth year in the NWSL and her first with URFC, Ship brings with her vast experience throughout the league despite having missed most of the 2018 regu-lar season with a knee injuury. In total during her NWSL career, she has notched two goals and registered four assists.

FORWARD

18 NICOLEBARNHART

Height: 5’ 10”Birth Date: October 10, 1981 Birthplace: Pottstown, Pennsylvania College: Stanford

Barnhart, 38, comes to the Utah Royals FC with more than a decade of professional experience. With 54 caps with the United States Women’s National team, and 108 starts for FC Kansas City, Barnhart comes to Salt Lake with two Olympic gold medals (2008, 2012) and a 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup runner- up. Up until 2017, Barnhart held the NWSL record for most consecutive clean-sheets, going on a 10-game streak without allow-ing a goal . She would later win an NWSL title in both 2014 and 2015 for FCKC.

GOALKEEPER 19MICHELLEMAEMONE

Height: 5’ 7”Birth Date: March 18, 1997 Birthplace: San Jose, California College: Pepperdine

Maemone was selected with the fifth pick in the third round of the 2019 NWSL College Draft, having featured collegiately for Pepperdine University. Maemone played to a standout career that began in 2015 and culminated in 2018. The San Jose, California native featured in 78 matches for Pepperdine, 69 of which were starts. Mae-mone notched three goals in her collegiate career while registering four assists. During her senior year she featured on the backline as well as up top for the Waves. She also helped Pepperdine to a West Coast Confer-ence-best 0.82 goals-against average in her 19 starts as a senior.

DEFENDER

20Height: 5’ 4”Birth Date: April 4, 1994 Birthplace: Novi, Michigan College: Penn State

Weber, 26, was selected as the 14th pick in the 2016 NWSL College Draft by the Western New York Flash and was subsequently traded to Portland Thorns FC. In three season with the Thorns Weber has scored one goal in 44 appearances and was part of the team that won the 2017 National Women’s Soccer League Championship. Prior to entering the NWSL the forward spent four years as a member of Penn State’s soccer team where she played in 100 matches, recorded 35 goals and 29 assists and won the 2015 NCAA National Championship.

MALLORYWEBER

FORWARD


21 VEROBOQUETE

Height: 5’ 4”Birth Date: April 9, 1987Birthplace: Santiago de Compostela, Galicia Previous Club: Beijing BG Phoenix

Boquete moves from Beijing BG Phoenix, to Utah Royals FC. Boquete played in the US with the Chicago Red Stars back in 2010, when the club was a member of the Women’s Professional Soccer league. After the 2010 season, Boquete played in the Spanish Superliga with RCD Espanyol de Barcelona, and won the Golden Boot award with a total of 41 goals in 29 matches. She returned to the U.S. with the Philadelphia Independence for the 2011-12 season and was named the 2011 WPS Player of the Year.

MIDFIELDER

22MADELINENOLF

Height: 5’ 3”Birth Date: March 29, 191996 Birthplace: Omaha, Nebraska College: Penn State

Nolf was picked ninth in the third round of the 2019 draft from Penn State University, where she spent five sea-sons including a redshirt year in 2016. She started all six matches for the United States U-20 Women’s National Team at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in 2016. As a redshirt senior, Nolf and the Nittany Lion defense posted 14 shutouts and allowed just 13 goals in 25 starts on the backline. In all, the Omaha, Nebraska native earned 77 starts over her collegiate career.

DEFENDER 23CHRISTENPRESS

Height: 5’ 7”Birth Date: December 29, 1988 Birthplace: Los Angeles,California College: Stanford

Press came out of Stanford University in 2010 with the school’s all-time leading goals at 71. She claimed the 2010 Hermann Trophy and was named Soccer Ameri-ca Player of the Year, Pac-10 Conference Player of the Year. Press joined Swedish club Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC and scored 17 goals in 21 match appearances. She made her debut for the USWNT in February 2013. Press then joined the Red Stars. In 2017, she led Chicago to the NWSL Semifinals as team captain and was the top scorer for the team. On the day of the 2018 NWSL Col-lege Draft, Press was traded to the Houston Dash in a three-team deal with Sky Blue FC. Houston retained Press’s rights as the striker moved overseas to sign a three-month contract with Göteborg FC.

FORWARD


25BRITTANYRATCLIFFE

Height: 5’ 4”Birth Date: February 7, 1994Birthplace: Monroe Township, New Jersey College: Virginia

Ratcliffe was a star at the University of Virginia where she played in almost every college game of her career, scoring 24 goals. Ratcliffe was drafted by the Boston Breakers in the 2016 NWSL College Draft, where she made 15 appearances and two goals in her first year. In 2017, Ratcliffe made the move to the 2014/2015 NWSL cup champions, FC Kansas City, where she appeared in 22 games, and scored one goal.

FORWARD24 TAYLORLEACH

Height: 5’10”Birth Date: January 19, 1992Birthplace: Maumee, Ohio College: University of South Carolina

After spending the last three seasons in Sweden where she featured in 86 matches, Leach now begins her ven-ture with URFC with European experience having been a member of the 2019-20 UEFA Champions League squad for Göteborg FC. During her college career, she notched six goals in 86 matches and was a First-Team All-SEZC member at South Carolina.

DEFENDER

29 KATEDEL FAVA

Height: 5’9”Birth Date: July 23, 1998Birthplace: Kenosha, Wisconsin College: Illinois State University

Del Fava was selected in the second round, 12th overall, in the draft in January. She arrives in Utah after a stand-out college career at Illinois State where she scored 25 goals in 84 appearances over four seasons. The mid-fielder was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year in 2019 after leading the conference in goals (17), points (39), shots on goal (35) and game-winning goals (6). In her career, she earned All-MVC First Team honors three times. Additionally, she was named the Linda Herman Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the 2018-19 academic year.

FORWARD 30MARISSASHEVA

Height: 5’3”Birth Date: April 22, 1997Birthplace: Sellersville, Pennsylvania College: Penn State University

Sheva joins URFC as a second-year professional and a collegiate standout at Penn State University where she featured in 92 matches – 60 of which were starts – while scoring 13 goals and adding 9 assists in four years as a Nittany Lion. Sheva helped the program to its first-ev-er NCAA National Championship in 2015 in addition to competing on the school’s track and field team. Most recently, Sheva featured for Deportivo Alavéz in the Spanish second division.

MIDFIELDER

42RAISASTROM-OKIMOTO

Height: 5’ 3”Birth Date: October 25, 1997Birthplace: ‘Aiea, O’ahu, HawaiiCollege: Hawaii

Strom-Okimoto joins URFC after a standout collegiate career at the University of Hawaii where during her senior season in 2018 was awarded the Big West Con-ference Player of the Year – the first University of Ha-waii player to win the award. During her senior season Strom-Okimoto notched 12 goals and registered three assists. She finished her collegiate career in the top 10 in nine different offensive categories including: goals, assists, game-winning goals, shots, shots on goal, mul-tiple assist matches and overtime goals.

FORWARD


38AMINATADIALLO

Height: 5’ 8”Birth Date: April 3, 1995 Birthplace: Grenoble, FranceCollege: N/A

Diallo arrives in Utah with vast European experience having played the last two season with PSG in Division 1 Feminine, the top flight of French soccer. Durign her time with PSG, she scored one goal in 59 appearances. She has appeared on seven ocassions with the France Women’s National Team, including during the 2018 She-Believes Cup.

MIDFIELDER33 HOLLYDAUGIRDA

Height: 5’8”Birth Date: December 24, 1997Birthplace: Salt Lake City, Utah College: University of Utah

Daugirda was a PAC-12 All-Academic selection from 2017-2019 and started every match the Utes played from 2018-2019. Over her four-year career at the University of Utah, she featured in 81 total matches, starting 64 and scoring 5 goals while adding 11 assists. Prior to featur-ing for the University of Utah Daugirda was invited to play for the United States U-19 Women’s National Team and was named to numerous Utah All-State lists hav-ing scored 77 goals during her career at Skyline High School.

MIDFIELDER

61 MELISSALOWDER

Height: 5’ 8”Birth Date: January 21, 1997Birthplace: San Diego, CaliforniaCollege: Santa Clara University

GOALKEEPER

66Nickname: “Gunny”Height: 5’ 5”Birth Date: September 28, 1988 Birthplace: Garðabær, Iceland

Jonsdottir, 31, helped Iceland, one of the top 20 teams in the world, qualify for the 2013 Women’s UEFA Cup Quarterfinals, and bagged crucial goals against Slove-nia and Scotland in Women’s UEFA 2016. As one of the top goal- scorers in Iceland WNT history, and with 48 caps under her belt, Jonsdottir arrives in Utah with more than 200 club games played and nearly 50 caps for the Iceland National Team. Jonsdottir holds a national cham-pionship, winning the 2012 Iceland Women’s Cup while starting for Stjarnan FC. She also was a member of the Norway Toppserien league’s 2017 runner-up, Valerenga FC, reaching nearly 2,000 minutes, 21 games and five career goals in a single season.

MIDFIELDER

GUNNYJONSDOTTIR


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UTAH ROYALS FC...Utah Royals FC is set to face Sky Blue FC on Saturday, July 4 in an Independence Day clash for each team’s second match in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup presented