2020 Utah Royals FC season

The 2020 Utah Royals FC season marks the team's third year of existence and its third season in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the top division of the American soccer pyramid.[1]

Utah Royals FC
2020 season
OwnerDell Loy Hansen
Head coachAmy LePeilbet (interim)
StadiumRio Tinto Stadium
NWSL
2020 NWSL Challenge CupQuarter-finals

On January 6, 2020 the team mutually parted ways with head coach Laura Harvey so she could take a position with U.S Soccer as the head coach for the U-20 Women's National Team.[2]

Competitions

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the NWSL did not hold a regular season as originally scheduled.[3] The season was replaced by the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup in July and the Fall Series in September and October.[4]

2020 NWSL Challenge Cup

The Royals began their Challenge Cup against the Houston Dash on June 30. They were without forward Christen Press who opted out of the tournament and Desiree Scott who withdrew from the tournament due to personal reasons.[5][6]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 North Carolina Courage 4 4 0 0 7 1 +6 12
2 Washington Spirit 4 2 1 1 4 4 0 7
3 OL Reign 4 1 2 1 1 2 −1 5
4 Houston Dash 4 1 1 2 5 6 −1 4
5 Utah Royals FC (H) 4 1 1 2 4 5 −1 4
6 Chicago Red Stars 4 1 1 2 2 3 −1 4[lower-alpha 1]
7 Sky Blue FC 4 1 1 2 2 3 −1 4[lower-alpha 1]
8 Portland Thorns FC 4 0 3 1 2 3 −1 3
Source: NWSL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Host.
Notes:
  1. Chicago Red Stars won the tiebreaker against Sky Blue FC on fewer yellow cards (1 to 4).

Challenge Cup Match Results

Preliminary Round

June 30, 2020 1 Houston Dash 3–3 Utah Royals FC Herriman, Utah
10:30
Report
Stadium: Zions Bank Stadium
Referee: Karen Abt
July 4, 2020 2 Utah Royals FC 1–0 Sky Blue FC Herriman, Utah
10:30
Report Stadium: Zions Bank Stadium
Referee: Katja Koroleva
July 8, 2020 3 Utah Royals FC 0–1 OL Reign Herriman, Utah
10:30 Report
Stadium: Zions Bank Stadium
Referee: Danielle Chesky
July 12, 2020 4 Chicago Red Stars 1–0 Utah Royals FC Herriman, Utah
20:00
Report Stadium: Zions Bank Stadium
Referee: Michael Radchuk

Knockout Round

July 17, 2020 Quarter-final Houston Dash 0–0
(3–2 p)		 Utah Royals FC Zions Bank Stadium
Herriman, Utah
20:00 Report
Penalties

Fall Series

The Royals would be without several players for the NWSL Fall Series. Forward Christen Press signed with Manchester United. Rachel Corsie went on loan to Birmingham City and Gunnhildur Jónsdóttir was loaned to Valur. Kelley O'Hara, Desiree Scott and Diana Matheson all opted out of the Fall Series.[7]

Head Coach Craig Harrington and assistant coach Louis Lancaster were placed on administrative leave prior to the first game of the Fall Series, Amy LePeilbet was named interim head coach.[8]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Portland Thorns FC (C) 4 3 1 0 10 3 +7 10 Community Shield
2 Houston Dash 4 3 0 1 12 7 +5 9 Runners-up
3 Washington Spirit 4 2 1 1 5 4 +1 7 Third place
4 Sky Blue FC 4 2 0 2 6 7 −1 6
5 North Carolina Courage 4 1 2 1 8 10 −2 5
6 Chicago Red Stars 4 1 1 2 7 7 0 4
7 OL Reign 4 1 1 2 6 8 −2 4
8 Orlando Pride 4 0 2 2 5 8 −3 2
9 Utah Royals FC 4 0 2 2 3 8 −5 2
Source: NWSL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(C) Champions.

Fall Series Match Results
September 20, 2020 1 Portland Thorns FC 3–0 Utah Royals FC Portland, Oregon
 Stadium: Providence Park
September 26, 2020 2 Utah Royals FC 2–2 OL Reign Sandy, Utah
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
October 3, 2020 3 Utah Royals FC 1–1 Portland Thorns FC Sandy, Utah
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
October 17, 2020 4 OL Reign 2–0 Utah Royals FC Tacoma, Washington
 Stadium: Cheney Stadium

Club

Roster
  • Age calculated as of the start of the 2020 Fall Series.
As of September 11, 2020[9][10][11][12]
No. Name Nationality Positions Date of birth (age) Signed from Year with club (year signed)
1 Abby Smith  United States GK (1993-10-04)October 4, 1993 (aged 26) Boston Breakers 3 (2018)
2 Rachel Corsie  Scotland DF (1989-08-17)August 17, 1989 (aged 31) Seattle Reign 3 (2018)
3 Tziarra King  United States FW (1998-08-24)August 24, 1998 (aged 22) North Carolina State University 1 (2020)
5 Kelley O'Hara  United States DF (1988-08-04)August 4, 1988 (aged 32) Sky Blue FC 3 (2018)
6 Katie Bowen  New Zealand DF (1994-04-15)April 15, 1994 (aged 26) FC Kansas City 3 (2018)
8 Amy Rodriguez  United States FW (1987-02-17)February 17, 1987 (aged 33) FC Kansas City 3 (2018)
7 Elizabeth Ball  United States DF (1995-10-20)October 20, 1995 (aged 24) Portland Thorns 1 (2020)
9 Lo'eau LaBonta  United States MF (1993-03-18)March 18, 1993 (aged 27) FC Kansas City 3 (2018)
10 Diana Matheson  Canada MF (1984-04-06)April 6, 1984 (aged 36) Seattle Reign FC 3 (2018)
11 Desiree Scott  Canada MF (1987-07-31)July 31, 1987 (aged 33) FC Kansas City 3 (2018)
12 Taylor Lytle  United States MF (1989-03-31)March 31, 1989 (aged 31) Sky Blue FC 3 (2018)
13 Chestley Strother  United States MF (1994-06-13)June 13, 1994 (aged 26) Sundsvalls DFF 1 (2020)
14 Gaby Vincent  United States DF (1997-12-07)December 7, 1997 (aged 22) University of Louisville 2 (2019)
17 Arielle Ship  United States FW (1995-05-02)May 2, 1995 (aged 25) Washington Spirit 1 (2020)
18 Nicole Barnhart  United States GK (1981-10-10)October 10, 1981 (aged 38) FC Kansas City 3 (2018)
19 Michelle Maemone  United States DF (1997-03-18)March 18, 1997 (aged 23) Pepperdine University 2 (2019)
20 Mallory Weber  United States FW (1994-04-04)April 4, 1994 (aged 26) Portland Thorns 2 (2019)
21 Verónica Boquete  Spain FW (1987-04-09)April 9, 1987 (aged 33) Beijing BG Phoenix 2 (2019)
22 Madeline Nolf  United States DF (1996-03-29)March 29, 1996 (aged 24) Penn State University 2 (2019)
24 Taylor Leach  United States DF (1992-01-19)January 19, 1992 (aged 28) Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC 1 (2020)
25 Brittany Ratcliffe  United States FW (1994-02-07)February 7, 1994 (aged 26) FC Kansas City 3 (2018)
29 Kate Del Fava  United States FW (1998-07-23)July 23, 1998 (aged 22) Illinois State University 1 (2020)
38 Aminata Diallo  France MF (1995-04-03)April 3, 1995 (aged 25) Paris Saint-Germain 1 (2020)
42 Raisa Strom-Okimoto  United States FW (1997-10-25)October 25, 1997 (aged 22) University of Hawaii 2 (2019)
61 Melissa Lowder  United States GK Santa Clara University 2 (2019)
66 Gunnhildur Jónsdóttir  Iceland MF (1988-09-28)September 28, 1988 (aged 31) Vålerenga 3 (2018)
Michele Vasconcelos  United States FW (1994-05-11)May 11, 1994 (aged 26) Chicago Red Stars 1 (2020)

Player Transactions
As of September 11, 2020

Transfers In
Date Player Positions played Previous club Fee/notes Ref.
11/05/19 Kyra Carusa FW Sky Blue FC Re-Entry Wire [13]
11/05/19 Cali Farquharson FW Washington Spirit Re-Entry Wire [13]
11/05/19 Arielle Ship FW Washington Spirit Re-Entry Wire [13]
01/06/20 Taylor Leach DF Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC Signed [14]
01/07/20 Chestley Strother MF Sundsvalls DFF Signed [15]
03/03/20 Elizabeth Ball DF Portland Thorns Acquired in a trade with the Portland Thorns in exchange for Becky Sauerbrunn and allocation money. [16]
03/11/20 Aminata Diallo MF Paris Saint-Germain Signed on loan from Paris Saint-Germain. [17]
09/10/20 Michele Vasconcelos FW Chicago Red Stars Acquired in a trade with the Chicago Red Stars in exchange for $55,000 in allocation money. [18]

Transfers Out
Date Player Positions played Destination club Fee/notes Ref.
12/12/19 Cali Farquharson FW KIF Örebro DFF Waived [19]
12/19/19 Makenzy Doniak FW Chicago Red Stars Traded to the Chicago Red Stars, in exchange for Chicago's second round pick in the 2021 NWSL College Draft [20]
01/06/20 Erika Tymrak MF Retired [21]
01/08/20 Katie Stengel FW Houston Dash Traded to the Houston Dash along with Utah's third round pick in the 2020 College Draft in exchange for Houston's second round pick in the 2020 and 2021 NWSL College Drafts [22]
02/03/20 Mandy Laddish MF Retired [23]
02/03/20 Becca Moros DF Waived [23]
02/19/20 Sydney Miramontez DF Retired [24]
03/03/20 Becky Sauerbrunn DF Portland Thorns Traded to the Portland Thorns in exchange for Elizabeth Ball and allocation money. [16]
09/09/20 Christen Press FW Manchester United Signed with Manchester United in the FA Women's Super League, Utah retains her rights in the NWSL. [25]

2020 NWSL College Draft
Source: National Women's Soccer League[26]
Round Pick Nat. Player Pos. Previous Team
Round 18Tziarra KingFNorth Carolina State University
Round 212Kate Del FavaMIllinois State University
Round 431Cyera HintzenFUniversity of Texas

References
  1. "Here's everything you need to know about the Utah Royals' women's soccer league, the NWSL". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2018-01-21.
  2. "UTAH ROYALS FC PARTS WAYS WITH HEAD COACH LAURA HARVEY". January 6, 2020. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  3. "NWSL announces full 2020 season schedule". February 20, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  4. "NWSL announces remaining 2020 fall series schedule and CBS broadcast talent". September 3, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  5. "Utah Royals looking to committee of forwards for goals after Christen Press opts out of Challenge Cup". June 29, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  6. "Canadian Desiree Scott pulls out of NWSL's Challenge Cup for personal reasons". June 30, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  7. "All of their national team players have opted out, so who's left for Utah Royals FC in fall opener?". September 19, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  8. "@itsmeglinehan". Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  9. "Utah Royals FC Signs MF Vero Boquete". rsl.com. January 4, 2019. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  10. "Three Utah Royals FC Players Change Numbers for 2019 Season". March 4, 2019. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  11. "URFC Signs Michelle Maemone, Madeline Nolf and Gaby Vincent to Supplemental Roster". April 17, 2019. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  12. "Utah Royals FC Promotes Three Players". July 24, 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  13. "Utah Royals FC select 3 off the Re-Entry Wire". November 5, 2019. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  14. "Breaking: Utah Royals sign defender Taylor Leach". January 6, 2020. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  15. "Utah Royals FC Signs Midfielder Chestley Strother". January 7, 2020. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  16. "Utah Royals FC Acquires Elizabeth Ball from Portland Thorns FC". March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  17. "Utah Royals FC Signs French Midfielder Aminata Diallo". March 11, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  18. "Utah Royals FC Acquires Forward Michele Vasconcelos from Chicago Red Stars". September 10, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  19. "KIF Örebro värvar in Cali Farquharson från Washington Spirit". December 19, 2019. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  20. "Makenzy Doniak traded to the Chicago Red Stars". December 19, 2019. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  21. "Utah Royals FC midfielder Erika Tymrak retires on day club confirms departure of head coach Laura Harvey". January 6, 2020. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  22. "Utah Royals FC Receives Two Draft Picks in Trade With the Houston Dash". January 8, 2020. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  23. "Utah Royals FC Midfielder Mandy Laddish Announces Retirement". February 3, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  24. "Utah Royals FC Defender Sydney Miramontez Announces Retirement". February 29, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  25. "CHRISTEN PRESS SIGNS FOR UNITED WOMEN". September 9, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  26. "2020 NWSL COLLEGE DRAFT ORDER". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
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