2019 Utah Royals FC season


The 2019 Utah Royals FC season marks the team's second year of existence and its second season in the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of the American soccer pyramid.
In an effort to improve on the team's 5th place finish in 2018, the Royals signed former Spanish international and Spain's all-time leading scorer Vero Boquete for the 2019 season.
Utah encountered numerous injury problems to start the season as both Brittany Ratcliffe and Taylor Lytle suffered season ending injuries before the season began. Canadian international Diana Matheson suffered a toe injury with the Canadian National Team which would require surgery, this injury would also force her to miss the World Cup. To help deal with these absences, Utah claimed Mallory Weber off waivers from the Portland Thorns.
Six members of the Royals would miss games due to their participation at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelley O'Hara and Christen Press for the United States, Desiree Scott for Canada, Katie Bowen for New Zealand and Rachel Corsie for Scotland.
The Royals would lose another player at the end of June as defender Samantha Johnson announced her retirement from professional soccer.
Defender Kelley O'Hara suffered an ankle injury during the first USWNT victory tour match on August 3rd, she would miss the remainer of Utah's season due to this injury.
On August 14th, Royals forward Christen Press was named NWSL Player of the Week for Week 17, this was the first time a player on the Utah Royals had received this award. Press was also named Player of the Month for August, which was also a first for the club.
The Royals were eliminated from playoff contention on September 28th after their fourth consecutive loss.
Utah defender Becky Sauerbrunn was named 2019 NWSL Defender of the Year, this was her fourth time winning the award, as she had previously won it three times while playing for FC Kansas City.

Competitions

Pre Season

[2019 National [Women's Soccer League season|NWSL Regular Season]]

Overall Table

Results summary

Results by round

Match results

April
May
June
July
August
September
October

Stats

RankPlayerNationGoals
1Amy Rodriguez9
2Christen Press8
3Lo'eau LaBonta2
3Katie Stengel2
5Makenzy Doniak1
5Rachel Corsie1
5Becky Sauerbrunn1
5Gunnhildur Jónsdóttir1

RankPlayerNationAssists
1Vero Boquete6
2Gunnhildur Jónsdóttir4
3Lo'eau LaBonta2
3Christen Press2
5Michelle Maemone1
5Kelley O'Hara1
5Mallory Weber1
5Erika Tymrak1
5Katie Stengel1

RankPlayerNationShutouts
1Nicole Barnhart10

Honors and awards

[NWSL awards]

Best XI

Second XI

NWSL Monthly Awards

[NWSL Player of the Month]

[NWSL Team of the Month]

NWSL Weekly Awards">2019 National Women's Soccer League season#Weekly awards">NWSL Weekly Awards

[NWSL Player of the Week]

[NWSL Goal of the Week]

[NWSL Save of the Week]

Club

Roster

No.NameNationalityPositionsDate of birth Signed fromYear with club
1Abby SmithGK Boston Breakers2
2Rachel CorsieDF Seattle Reign2
3Rebecca MorosDF FC Kansas City2
4Becky SauerbrunnDF FC Kansas City2
5Kelley O'HaraDF Sky Blue FC2
6Katie BowenDF FC Kansas City2
7Mandy LaddishMF FC Kansas City2
8Amy RodriguezFW FC Kansas City2
9Lo'eau LaBontaMF FC Kansas City2
10Diana MathesonMF Seattle Reign FC2
11Desiree ScottMF FC Kansas City2
12Taylor LytleMF Sky Blue FC2
13Makenzy DoniakFW North Carolina Courage2
14Gaby VincentDF University of Louisville1
15Erika TymrakMF FC Kansas City2
17Sydney MiramontezDF FC Kansas City2
18Nicole BarnhartGK FC Kansas City2
19Michelle MaemoneDF Pepperdine University1
20Mallory WeberFW Portland Thorns1
21Verónica BoqueteFW Beijing BG Phoenix1
22Madeline NolfDF Penn State University1
23Christen PressFW Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC2
24Katie StengelFW Boston Breakers2
25Brittany RatcliffeFW FC Kansas City2
42Raisa Strom-OkimotoFW University of Hawaii1
66Gunnhildur JónsdóttirMF Vålerenga2
Melissa LowderGK Santa Clara University1

Player Transactions

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Transfers In

Transfers Out

[2019 NWSL College Draft]

RoundPickPlayerPrevious Team
Round 323DPepperdine
Round 326DPenn State
Round 432MNorth Carolina