
Utah Royals FC Closes Second Leg of Preseason with a Win over USC
March 24, 2019 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Utah Royals FC News Release
Long Beach, California - Utah Royals FC defeated the University of Southern California, playing in three 30-minute halves to close its second leg of preseason Saturday afternoon. FW Christen Press scored a hat trick and MF Vero Boquete scored her first goal for the club off a free kick positioned at the top of the penalty box.
URFC picked up its first goal of the day, as draft pick DF Michelle Maemone dribbled past a USC defender directly to the goal and sent the ball to the far post. Just three minutes later, DF Becky Sauerbrunn scored off a free kick distributed by Boquete.
The momentum only progressed after Press scored her first of three goals in the ninth minute as Boquete played a ball behind the USC defense, for Press to sneak behind and finish. FW Amy Rodriguez finished the first half with a goal of her own after a ball hit the goalpost and ended up back at her feet to redirect towards the back of the net.
In the second period of the match, USC was able to convert and scored its only goal of the game. URFC kept a trigger on the attack and ended the final third period with three more goals by FW Raisa Strom-Okimoto, FW Alexandra Kimball, and FW Brittany Ratcliffe.
Utah Royals FC will now travel back to Utah and head into its third leg of preseason next week.
Match: Utah Royals FC vs. University of Southern California
Date: March 23, 2019
Venue: George Allen Field; Long Beach, California
Lineups:
Utah Royals FC: Abby Smith (Nicole Barnhart 31')(Melissa Lowder 61'); Michelle Maemone (Maddie Nolf 61'), Becky Sauerbrunn (Gaby Vincent 61'), Samantha Johnson, Katie Bowen (Makenzy Doniak 61'); Desiree Scott (Raisa Strom-Okimoto 61'), Lo'eau LaBonta (Taylor Lytle 46'), Vero Boquete, Gunny Jónsdóttir (Mandy Laddish 46'), Amy Rodriguez (Alexandra Kimball 61'); Christen Press (Brittany Ratcliffe 61')
• Discuss this story on the National Women's Soccer League message board...
National Women's Soccer League Stories from March 24, 2019
- Thorns FC Open Spring Invitational against Chicago Red Stars - Portland Thorns FC
- Reign Tops USWNT U23s - Seattle Reign FC
- Utah Royals FC Closes Second Leg of Preseason with a Win over USC - Utah Royals FC
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Utah Royals FC Stories
- RSL's Aaron Herrera Called up to USMNT for Friendly
- Real Salt Lake Announces Departure of Utah Royals FC General Manager Stephanie Lee
- Utah Soccer LLC Transfers Ownership of Utah Royals FC to Group in Kansas City, Kansas
- Utah Royals FC Receives Allocation Money in Exchange for Kelley O'Hara
- Tziarra King and Raisa Strom-Okimoto Share Humanitarian of the Year Award

