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Utah Royals FC

This Week at RSL: August 19-25

August 19, 2019 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Utah Royals FC News Release


Real Salt Lake

RSL split two home matches this week, topping Seattle Sounders FC 3-0 on Wednesday in Interim Head Coach Freddy Juarez's first match at the helm before falling 2-0 to league-leading LAFC on Saturday. The defeat to LAFC halted a six-match unbeaten streak and eight-match home unbeaten streak. RSL currently sits fourth in the Western Conference at 12-9-4 (40 points), just two points behind second place Minnesota United.

In the mid-week match, goals from FW Sam Johnson, MF Albert Rusnák and FW Corey Baird sealed victory as RSL split the season series with Seattle. MF Damir Kreilach added two assists on the night, while Baird and DF Aaron Herrera also added assists in the win. GK Nick Rimando was credited with his seventh shutout of the season while DF Nedum Onuoha blocked six shots on the night - the most by an MLS player since Opta started tracking statistics for the league in 2011.

Over the weekend, RSL went into halftime level at 0-0 with LAFC and earned the benefit of a LAFC defender Walker Zimmerman being sent off in the 48th minute, but couldn't capitalize, as MLS leading scorer Carlos Vela earned a penalty and red card to DF Aaron Herrera. Vela converted and Adama Diomande later added a second for the final 2-0 scoreline.

RSL will return to action for the third consecutive match at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, hosting the Colorado Rapids in the finale of the 2019 Rocky Mountain Cup. Salt Lake won the first meeting between the rivals, 3-2 in Colorado on May 11, with Rusnák, Baird and Johnson each scoring in the win. RSL can clinch the Rocky Mountain Cup for the fourth consecutive season and 11th time in the last 13 seasons with a win, draw or loss by one goal. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. MT from Rio Tinto Stadium and will be broadcast live on KMYU and streamed on the KSL TV app and KSL.com, with radio coverage on ESPN700.

Utah Royals FC

Utah Royals FC continued its recent resurgence with a 2-0 win over the Orlando Pride on Saturday at Exploria Stadium. The team's third consecutive win saw goals from FW Christen Press and FW Amy Rodriguez while GK Nicole Barnhart made one save for her ninth shutout of the season. Rodriguez is now tied for second in the NWSL with eight goals with her second extended scoring streak of the season, scoring in three straight matches after notching goals in four straight matches from May 3-25. Meanwhile Press has goals in five of her last six matches to climb to a tie for fifth on the scoring charts. The win lifts URFC to fourth in the NWSL standings at 8-6-3 (27 points).

This week, Royals FC will remain on the road, facing the Washington Spirit on Wednesday at the Maryland SoccerPlex. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. MT with live coverage on KMYU, the KSL TV app and ESPN 700.

On the global stage, Rodriguez is among 10 nominees for the 2019 FIFA Puskás Award given for the Goal of the Year. She is among three women nominated for the award and two players who play professionally in the U.S. Rodriguez was nominated for her screamer on June 15 against Sky Blue FC. The 10 nominees will be narrowed down to three finalists through an online vote here, with voting open through September 1 at 4 p.m. MT.

Real Monarchs SLC

On Friday, the Monarchs played to a 1-1 draw with Fresno FC at Chukchansi Park in Fresno. FW Douglas Martinez scored the club's lone goal of the night, marking his team-leading 10th goal of the season. The draw coupled with results elsewhere in the USL Championship places the Monarchs in 5th place in the Western Conference table at 10-7-5 (35 points).

Martinez recently returned to the Monarchs after a successful stint with the Honduras U-23s where he helped his country qualify for the 2020 Olympics and claim the silver medal at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. Martinez scored two goals through the run of the play at the Pan American games and added another goal in a penalty shootout against Mexico.

The Monarchs now face Orange County SC on Saturday at 8:00p MT at Championship Soccer Stadium in Irvine, California as the team looks to remain firmly in the playoff picture. Saturday's match can be seen live on ESPN+ beginning at 8:00p MT.

RSL Academy

The RSL Academy is continuing its preseason preparations in Herriman for the upcoming U.S. Soccer Development Academy season. As part of the team's preparations, the U-17s and U-19s will face off against Westminster College at the Zions Bank Training Center in Herriman beginning at 2:30p MT on Friday.

RSL Foundation

August 22nd:

RSL players will be visiting the Ronald McDonald House to visit with kids and their families. The Ronald McDonald House surrounds families with the support they need to be near and care for their seriously ill or injured children. They provide a home-away-from-home to ease daily burdens and empower families of hospitalized children with meaningful experiences and quality time together.

August 24th:

Kyle Beckerman will be hosting a meet and greet for the winning fans in the Parley Jersey auction. The auction was able to raise $6,000 with 100% of the proceeds going towards lighting homes on the Navajo Reservation that currently have no power. If you would still like to donate to this cause please visit: RSL.com/auction and click the donate button.

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National Women's Soccer League Stories from August 19, 2019


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