Utah Royals will face Sky Blue FC for the second time this season, this time at Rio Tinto Stadium. Here’s what you need to know ahead of the match:
1. Utah is coming off a 0-0 draw with Seattle Reign on Wednesday at Rio Tinto. The match saw Christen Press make her Royals debut, getting the start and going the full 90. Royals had 18 shots and 6 on goal, Press led the team with 7 shots and 4 on goal. With the draw, Utah remains in 6th with a record of 4-3-6.
Since Wednesday night, Utah has announced the trade of Heather O’Reilly’s rights and a 2019 NWSL College Draft second-round pick to North Carolina for midfielder Makenzy Doniak and a 2019 NWSL College Draft third-round pick.
2. The meeting on Saturday between Royals and Sky Blue is the second of three on the season between these two clubs. The Royals took all 3 points in New Jersey in a 2-1 victory on June 2nd, thanks to a goal from Diana Matheson and an own goal by Mandy Freeman. Since that match, Sky Blue has gone 0-1-2, drawing with Washington and Portland and losing to Orlando. With a record of 0-9-3 Sky Blue sits in last place in the NWSL, but Royals head coach Laura Harvey isn’t counting them out just yet:
3. Savannah McCaskill leads Sky Blue with 3 goals this season as well as 16 chances created and 6 successful corners/crosses. USWNT member Carli Lloyd scored her second of the season on Wednesday to secure the draw against Portland for Sky Blue. Lloyd leads the team with 27 shots and 11 shots on goal. Sky Blue’s draw against Portland extended their winless streak to 12, a new record for the longest winless streak to start the season in NWSL.
Our coverage of Utah Royals vs Sky Blue FC begins on Saturday, June 30th at 8 P.M. with Greg Wrubell and Carla Swensen-Haslam.
