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Utah Royals FC

Utah Royals FC Travels to Face Unbeaten N.C. Courage

April 20, 2018 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Utah Royals FC News Release


SANDY, UT - Utah Royals FC (0-1-2, 2 pts., NWSL 6th place) travels east to face the NWSL's lone undefeated team for the 2018 season, the North Carolina Courage (4-0-0, 12 pts., NWSL 1st place), on Saturday, April 21, at the WakeMed Soccer Complex in Cary, N.C. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. MT and is featured as the NWSL Lifetime "Game of the Week", with local radio coverage on ESPN700 AM in Utah.

Utah Royals FC and Head Coach Laura Harvey seek their first win of the young season, facing an obviously talented Courage team which has captured three of its four wins by a 1-0 scoreline in 2018. Saturday's road trip marks the third away game out of four as Utah kicks off its existence, the club looking to rebound from an 0-1 loss last Saturday against the Chicago Red Stars at Rio Tinto Stadium. Harvey and the Royals FC side earned points in each of its previous road matches - 1-1 at Orlando on March 24 and 0-0 at Houston on March 30 - with MF Gunny Jonsdottir scoring the club's first-ever goal in the third minute of the opener, assisted by FW Diana Matheson, and GK Abby Smith and the defense allowing just one goal in the run of play through 270 minutes.

Utah's inaugural game drew more than 19,000 fans to last week's home opener -- the second largest non-Portland crowd in NWSL history - with URFC returning to Rio Tinto Stadium for four consecutive contests on Utah soil from April 28 to May 19, the new club hosting Portland, Washington, Orlando and Houston.

How to Follow Utah Royals FC @ North Carolina Courage - Sat., April 21, 2018

Coverage Begins: 1:30 p.m. MT

National TV: Lifetime TV (Comcast 664 HD) / DirecTV 252 / Dish 108

Digital Streaming (LIVE or outside Utah): Lifetime TV app or www.myLifetime.com

Local Radio: ESPN700 AM (1:30 p.m. MT) w/ Greg Wrubell & Brian Dunseth

Back on March 24 in Orlando, Utah Royals FC claimed its first-ever point against the heavily-favored Pride with a third-minute strike from MF Gunny Jonsdottir, the Iceland WNT captain. Assisted by Canadian international Diana Matheson, the goal came from an eight-pass buildup that started in the back and involved seven different players. Despite conceding a penalty conversion following a disputed handball call, Royals FC left Florida with a 1-1 draw and 90 minutes competed as a group. For her efforts, Jonsdottir's strike was named the Week 1 NWSL Goal of the Week, as voted by fans.

In the club's second match against the Houston Dash, GK Abby Smith and the Royals FC defense earned the clean sheet - Smith's fourth of her young NWSL career - to procure yet another road point. Jonsdottir was denied the game-winning goal late by a brilliant Jane Campbell save, with the Erika Tymrak follow up sailing just wide.

In the team's first ever home game, FW Elise Thorsnes and MF Gunny Jonsdottir both found opportunities in front of the frame, but were unable to capitalize. USWNT forward Amy Rodriguez also made her return to the pitch, subbing in late in the game after 363 days of ACL surgery rehab and recovery. A solid possession game gave URFC chances in the attack, but a world-class volley midway through the first half from the Chicago midfielder left the team trailing 1-0 for a majority of the match.

Utah Royals FC kicks off 2018 with three of its first four games away from home, prior to a 22-day stretch from April 28 to May 19 that sees four consecutive home games against Portland, Washington, Orlando and Houston. Harvey's group then travels for four straight contests prior to six of its next nine at home, prior to an East Coast swing at Sky Blue FC (Aug. 18) and Washington (Aug. 22) in the year's penultimate regular-season games.

Born less than five months ago and already supported by nearly 5,000 season ticket holders, Utah Royals FC tickets are available by calling 844.Real.Tix or visiting www.UtahRoyalsFC.com.

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