'I think it's a good start': Win eludes Utah Royals FC in night celebrating #ReturnOfRoyalty
Ally Schlegel and Ava Cook each scored a goal, and Alyssa Naeher made both stand up, as the Chicago Red Stars took all 3 points with a 2-0 win over the reborn Royals.
Everything was set for the Utah Royals’ historic #ReturnOfRoyalty Saturday evening in Sandy, Utah.
There was the sellout crowd of 20,370 tickets distributed — believed to be the largest crowd for a women’s team sporting event in Utah history — a pregame flyover from nearby Hill Air Force base, and dozens of noted dignitaries in attendance — perhaps notably among them Lindsey Vonn, the Olympic champion skier and new part-owner who joined co-owners David Blitzer and Ryan Smith in introducing the relaunched team to the Wasatch Front for the first time since 2020.
Everything, that is, except the final pass and the finishing touch.
Ally Schlegel and Ava Cook each scored a goal, and Alyssa Naeher made both stand up, as the Chicago Red Stars took all three points with a 2-0 win over the reborn Royals.
Utah (0-1, 0 points) out-shot the Red Stars 19-10, including a 5-4 edge in shots on target with seven shots blocked and 67.5% possession. The young side with an average age of just over 24 years old completed passes at an 82.4% clip, won 37 duels to Chicago’s 27, nine tackles to the Stars’ seven.
“I think it's a good start,” said Royals goalkeeper Carly Nelson, the former University of Utah keeper who grew up in Utah County and was the lone Utah native to start after Mandy Haught suspended due to a red card earned in the NWSL final last year with Gotham FC. “I think with a new team and a new atmosphere, I think those mistakes came from ourselves, and I think those could be really good building blocks and learning lessons for us through the season.”
The biggest difference, though? In two words by head coach Amy Rodriguez: Alyssa Naeher.
The U.S. international who captains Chicago made five saves against 13 shots faced to hand the Red Stars a 1-0 start to the 2024 NWSL season.
“Credit to Chicago and Alyssa Naeher tonight,” Rodriguez said. “We were unable to get it past her and she showed up huge for them and kept them in the game and in moments where we probably should have scored or could have scored. She denied us and that kept your team in the game. So I think that was the difference maker for Chicago tonight.”
Schlegel gave the Red Stars a lead in the 50th minute, heading home a lob from Sam Staab into the area to lift visiting Chicago in front, 1-0.
Hannah Betford nearly equalized just before the hour mark, but her attempt from Royals captain Paige Monaghan was disrupted by Naeher.
A pair of BYU products made their Royals debut in the second half, including former Alta High star Brecken Mozingo replacing Frankie Tagliaferri in midfield in the 69th minute.
Fellow BYU alum Cameron Tucker, a third-year pro who prepped at Lone Peak, replaced Agnes Nyberg to give Rodriguez’s side a second striker with Bedford.
But Cook doubled the Red Stars’ advantage in the 77th minute, and Chicago took all three points back to the Windy City.
“I think we wanted to go for some impact, especially in the later minutes of the game when we were obviously down 2-0,” Rodriguez said. “Brecken Mozingo is a game changer. And we thought she was going to be able to do that for us tonight. She went in and made some really great impact. Ify as well. Cam Tucker as well. Like I said, we just couldn't put the ball over the line.”
But Saturday evening was about more than a match. Sure, there was anger and frustration that bubbled over from several players on the pitch, and certainly jubilation from Chicago’s side.
That’s to be expected from any group of competitors. But there was also one thing that results can’t eliminate: Pride.
Which is why, even after the bitter disappointment of the moment, each player stood up and thanked the fans, signed autographs, took selfies, and passed out miniature soccer balls to the sellout crowd.
Because Saturday evening was about more than a match, and more than a moment. It was about a movement, and one that is here to stay.
The NWSL is here to stay. And so are the Utah Royals.
“I hope we inspired Salt Lake City. I hope we inspired the state of Utah,” Rodriguez said. “For me personally, I think there's so much great soccer talent in this state that I've seen firsthand and, you can see it by just how many girls showed up in our stands tonight. I know that we are empowering those little girls to hopefully one day join us in this Royals organization and hopefully be a part of this because. The NWSL is growing, the soccer here in Utah is growing and I can't wait to see where this goes.”