Sandy • Kate Del Fava started her NWSL career in 2018 when the Utah Royals drafted her. When the team was sold in 2020, she played for the Kansas City Current.
The Royals traded for Del Fava as they built their roster for their 2024 return to the league. And she rewarded them Friday with the team’s first goal of the season.
“I’m really happy to score the first goal,” Del Fava said. “Feels like kind of a full circle moment for me being drafted by Utah. Being able to score the first goal was a really special moment.”
In addition to Del Fava’s goal, the Royals picked up their first victory as an expansion team with a 2-1 victory over the North Carolina Courage at America First Field. Rookie Ally Sentnor scored her first professional goal — a goal that served as the game-winner.
“The vibes are just incredible right now,” Sentnor said. “I think everyone’s just so happy.”
The Utah Royals didn’t score a goal in their opening game of the 2024 season — a game that marked the return of their team since getting sold and leaving the state in 2020.
Del Fava found herself open on a corner kick from captain Paige Monaghan and headed the ball in the back of the net with relative ease. It was the first goal of the game for either team.
The Courage answered in the 26th minute. But Sentnor put in a rocket four minutes later off an assist from Kaleigh Riehl.
Goalkeeper Mandy Haught came up with two consecutive penalty kick saves. Courage defender Malia Berkely took both shots Haught denied.
“Unbelievable,” coach Amy Rodriguez said of Haught’s saves. “It’s difficult to have one PK against you in a game, let alone two. But credit to Mandy for showing up and having that presence in the box. I think Malia Berkely doesn’t doesn’t miss those PKs if it’s not Mandy Haught.”
Utah plays Washington on the road on March 31.
Imani Dorsey injured
The Royals announced that defender Imani Dorsey ruptured her Achilles tendon late in the first half. She had to be helped off the field by two teammates.
“Devastating,” Rodriguez said. “Imani is a clear leader in our team. She was having an excellent night and it’s just so unfortunate to watch her kind of go down with that injury.”
Rodriguez said Dorsey will be out “for the foreseeable future.”
