Sandy • You have to go back to a defunct National Women’s Soccer League team to find the last time Becky Sauerbrunn scored a goal.
It happened in the 60th minute of an FC Kansas City win over the Washington Spirit on May 27, 2017. Sauerbrunn’s goal — a forward-momentum header off a corner kick — was one of three that evening for FCKC.
And in almost the same sequence, Sauerbrunn, now a defender with the Utah Royals FC, found the back of the net in Utah’s 1-0 over the Portland Thorns on Friday at Rio Tinto Stadium in front of 10,897 fans. It was the first goal of her Royals career, and the first game-winner in quite a while.
“Most of the time when I score, we wind up losing the game,” Sauerbrunn said. “So this was a nice change.”
Utah earned a corner kick in the 36th minute and forward Christen Press elected to take it short. She got the ball back and crossed it into the box to Sauerbrunn, who was near the penalty spot, but still a ways away from the goal.
Sauerbrunn cocked her head back and struck the ball, which took a bounce as it passed Thorns keeper Adrianna Franch.
“I thought it was going wide, but somehow it skidded in,” Sauerbrunn said. “I’ll take it.”
Her goal wasn’t the only first that transpired Friday. For the first time in franchise history, the Royals defeated the Thorns. In the two previous games this season, Utah and Portland tied 0-0 and 2-2, respectively.
Coach Laura Harvey said she discussed the fact that Utah had never beaten Portland in the week leading up to the game.
“We wanted to put that right, and thankfully we did,” Harvey said.
What started as a somewhat nervy game on both sides turned into statistical domination by Portland, but practical domination for Utah. The Thorns created 18 chances and tallied six shots on goal. The Royals, on the other hand, created only five chances and had three shots on goal.
“We had our keeper [Nicole] Barnhart in the back just absolutely saving everything,” forward Amy Rodriguez said. “Defenders sliding for the ball, doing the hard, gritty work. That’s what it takes to win games — no matter how many chances they get.”
What ultimately saved Utah — pun possibly intended — was Barnhart. She amassed six saves on the evening, many of them of the how-the-heck-did-she-save-that variety. She came away with her 10th clean sheet of the season — the best in the league.
“I thought [Barnhart] was exceptional tonight,” Harvey said. “Wasn’t always going to be easy for her. They put us under a lot of pressure in how they come at you.”
The Royals moved to third in the NWSL with the win, while the Thorns kept their pole position in the standings. It’s now been five games since Utah has lost.
Harvey said team worked on short corners throughout the week — the same type of set piece on which Sauerbrunn scored. But that particular play wasn’t one the team practiced. Harvey said there were laughs about that.
“I think for Becky Sauerbrunn to score a header from where she did, not many people can do that,” Harvey said.
