HOUSTON (Friday, March 30, 2018) – Utah Royals FC earned a road point for the second consecutive week to open its existence, managing a 0-0 draw at Houston against the Dash at BBVA Compass Stadium Friday night.

First-half opportunities for MF Gunny Jonsdottir - whose free kick from 22 yards out was tipped just over the bar - and FW Katie Stengel threatened the frame, but Houston GK Jane Campbell was impenetrable on the night.

Royals FC DF Brooke Elby - a 30th-minute substitution for injured DF Becca Moros - and MF Erika Tymrak, also making her club debut, had chances late in the match to find the game-winner, but were unable to capitalize. Meanwhile, URFC GK Abby Smith was rarely tested in the match, also finishing with the shutout, the first in club history and the former Texas Longhorn’s fourth of her NWSL career.

Laura Harvey’s team now joins the rest of the NWSL in observing the upcoming FIFA international break, returning to action for the first time ever on Utah soil on Sat., April 14 at Rio Tinto Stadium. Kickoff for that historic event is at 1:30p MT, as the nationally-televised NWSL Game of the Week on Lifetime against Chicago also features triple-platinum recording artist Rachel Platten singing the anthem pregame and celebrating a new era for sports in Utah with a post-Gabe concert featuring “Fight Song” and her other hits. Tickets are available at Head Coach’s team now joins the rest of the NWSL in observing the upcoming FIFA international break, returning to action for the. Kickoff for that historic event is at 1:30p MT, as the nationally-televised NWSL Game of the Week on Lifetime against Chicago also features triple-platinum recording artistsinging the anthem pregame and celebrating a new era for sports in Utah with a post-Gabe concert featuring “Fight Song” and her other hits. Tickets are available at www.UtahRoyalsFC.com or by calling 844.Real.Tix.

UP NEXT: Utah Royals FC will take a break this week as several international players head out during the FIFA window to represent “club and country.” Canadian internationals MF Desiree Scott & MF Diana Matheson travel to France, while MF Gunny Jonsdottir returns to guide Iceland while FW Elise Thorsnes represents Norway. DF Rachel Corsie, the captain of the Scotland WNT squad, departs, while MF Katrina Gorry continues her Australian role in FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying. Lastly, USWNT co-Captain Becky Sauerbrunn returns to USWNT duty in the upcoming days.

URFC dominated tonight’s match with a 66-34% possession advantage over Houston, connecting nearly twice as many passes as the Dash (668 to Houston’s 340). Utah Royals FC retained a majority of their possession in the back with center backs Becky Sauerbrunn and Rachel Corsie holding steady in front of the box, not allowing Houston a single shot on frame, and clearing the ball on 20 occasions. A majority of URFC’s chances on goals came through Matheson and Scott, both instrumental in dictating tempo and providing the final passes to create six shots on the frame.

KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS:

HOU - Jane Campbell, 28’ — MF Gunny Jonsdottir (Utah Royals) hit a right-footed free kick from outside the box towards the top left corner. Campbell was able to get a tip on the ball, sending it over the frame.

HOU - Jane Campbell, 29’ — MF Gunny Jonsdottir (Utah Royals) got a diving header in the box off of a corner kick from MF Diana Matheson (Utah Royals). Campbell blocked the ground-level header.

HOU - Jane Campbell, 59’ — MF Diana Matheson hit a right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom far corner. Jane Campbell dove to get a hand on it and deflected the ball away from goal.

HOU - Jane Campbell, 66’ — DF Brooke Elby (Utah Royals) took a settling touch at the top, left side of the box, before shooting to the top left corner of the goal. Campbell punched it out and over the frame.

HOU - Jane Campbell, 71’ — MF Gunny Jonsdottir (Utah Royals) found herself in a one vs one against Campbell. Jonsdottir looked to shot bottom left, but was blocked by Campbell’s right foot.

HOU - Jane Campbell, 72’ — FW Katie Stengel (Utah Royals) ripped a left-footed shot off the top of the box to the right corner, but Campbell deflected the ball.

UTA — Becky Sauerbrunn, 88’ — FW Nichelle Prince (Houston Dash) found an open window at the center of the box, but Becky Sauerbrunn dove in to block the shot.

Match: Utah Royals FC vs. Houston Dash

Date: March 16, 2018

Venue: BBVA Compass Stadium (Houston, TX)

Attendance: 3,433

Weather: Clear and 69 F

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F

Utah Royals FC 0 0 0

Houston Dash 0 0 0

NOTES:

- DF Kelley O’Hara (hamstring) and FW Elise Thorsnes (concussion) did not dress due to injury. O’Hara’s status during the upcoming FIFA break is TBD, while Thorsnes is expected to travel next week to represent Norway. DF Becca Moros also left the match in the 30’ with an apparent injury.

- Three players made their URFC debut, with DF Sydney Miramontez getting the start on the backline. NWSL veterans MF Lo’eau LaBonta and MF Erika Tymrak also played their first minutes in the 2018 NWSL season, making club debuts in the second half.

- Through 180 minutes of road action at ORL/HOU, the fledgling URFC side has conceded just one goal, on a disputed & controversial Marta penalty in the club’s March 24 debut.

- Six URFC players - Smith, Sauerbrunn, Corsie, Scott, Jonsdottir & Matheson - have appeared in all 180 minutes of the club’s existence, while 17 players have seen action thus far.

Lineups:

Utah Royals FC: Abby Smith, Becca Moros (Brooke Elby, 34’), Becky Sauerbrunn, Rachel Corsie, Sydney Miramontez, Desiree Scott, Katie Bowen (Lo’eau LaBonta, 60’), Gunnhildur Jonsdottir, Diana Matheson, Katie Stengel, Brittany Ratcliffe(Erika Tymrak, 67’)

Subs not used: Nicole Barnhart, Maegan Kelly, Alexa Newfield, Taylor Lytle

Houston Dash: Jane Campbell, Kristie Mewis, Janine Van Wyk(Lindsay Agnew, 76’), Amber Brooks, Rachel Daly, Haley Hanson, Linda Maserame Motlhalo, Kimberly Keever, Meleana Shim, Veronica Latsko (Nichelle Prince, 61’), Savannah Jordan

Subs not used: Claire Falknor, Michaela Hahn, Bianca Henninger, Alli Murphy, Sammy Jo Prudhomme

Stats Summary: UTA / HOU

Shots: 10 / 7

Shots on Goal: 6 / 0

Saves: 0 / 0

Corner Kicks: 0 / 5

Fouls: 5 / 10

Offside: 4 / 4

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:

None

OFFICIALS:

Referee: Elton Garcia

Assistant Referee 1: Jeremy Weed

Assistant Referee 2: Maggie Short

Fourth Official: Andrea Jedele