Sandy • In the locker room before the game, the Utah Royals FC players listed the groups of people for whom they wanted to win. The fans. Their friends. Their families.
The Royals delivered.
While the season as a whole will likely be labeled a disappointment by the organization, the Royals ended 2019 on a high note, beating the Houston Dash 2-1 Saturday in front of 9,513 fans at Rio Tinto Stadium. The win ended a season that saw URFC miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season, likely raising questions about what changes will be on the horizon.
“It’s a great note to end off on because we know we can do it,” midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta said. “We know it’s there and I think that’s the most frustrating part of our season is knowing that we could have done it. We could have made it to playoffs.”
While the team felt good about securing the win to end the year — something the Royals did to end 2018 as well — the disappointment was palpable. Forward Amy Rodriguez, who ended the year as Utah’s top goal-scorer, wasn’t too happy about that particular accolade considering how the season ended.
“I do feel like I’m leaving this season with a little bit of a bad taste in my mouth just because we didn’t make the playoffs,” Rodriguez said. “I wish I could have helped my team out more.”
Christen Press and Rodriguez scored the goals for the Royals, while Kristie Mewis put one away for the Dash. Utah dominated in the final third, amassing 22 shots to just three for Houston.
Coach Laura Harvey, who said she plans to return to Utah next season, said the way the Royals played Saturday was a microcosm of their 2019: a dominant first half followed by a second half that lets their opponent back in the game. She told her players that, too, after the game.
“I think it's some of the best football we’ve played all season, if not for a long time,” Harvey said. “We just completely controlled the game. And I think we started the second half in the same way, but then we let them back in the game in the second half. And that probably sums up the season. There’s been games where we should’ve put teams to bed and we didn’t.”
The Royals started early with their goal scoring. Utah sent the ball in to Press, whose defender nearly won the 50-50 ball. But a bad touch allowed Press to pass briefly to Katie Stengle, who returned it to Press for an easy shot in the third minute.
Rodriguez scored 20 minutes later off an assist from Veronica Boquete. But late in the second half, Mewis scored Houston’s lone goal. The Royals, however, held on to secure the victory.
Utah’s win also ended a four-game losing streak dating back to Sept. 13, and gave the Royals their first victory over the Dash this season.
LaBonta said the Royals already have good building blocks for next season, such as the team’s ability to pinpoint its mistakes. She also said she anticipates some changes next year.
“Obviously, no team is ever the same the following year,” LaBonta said. “We came with a new formation this year compared to last year, so who knows what’s going to happen next year.”
Harvey said the team needs to find a way to be more consistent next season if it wants to make the playoffs. She added that there were games against teams below the Royals that they didn’t win. That will have to change next year, she said.
