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SANDY — The Utah Royals picked up their second consecutive one-goal loss in a 2-1 home defeat against the San Diego Wave Saturday at America First Field.
Things were looking up for the Royals after a pair of wins to start the home stretch of the NWSL season last month, but injuries and player departures have tested the team's depth in the last two matches, especially in the attack.
Star Japanese striker Mina Tanaka and usual starting forward Hannah Betfort were left out of the first 11, and remained on the bench even as teammates warmed up on the sidelines Saturday. Sandy native Michele Vasconcelos and Dana Foederer started in their places.
Utah was on the back foot from the start against the Wave, with Amirah Ali scoring the fastest goal in club history just 30 seconds in, and Delphine Cascarino doubling the lead just five minutes later.
Cloe Lacasse found the back of the net for the first time in her brief NWSL career in the 59th minute to bring the Royals within one; but without more firepower off the bench, Utah was unable to find the equalizer in the remaining 30-plus minutes.
Cloé Lacasse with a perfect strike for her first NWSL goal 👏 pic.twitter.com/Wz3YSumGTY
— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) September 15, 2024
"Definitely happy that I was able to contribute; however, it's never great when you don't come up with a win at the end of the day," Lacasse said. "I definitely think this game is a shame, and it's gonna hurt because the game is 90 minutes, right? And they outplayed us for six minutes, and those six minutes cost us two goals.
"The rest of the game I'd say we outplayed them, to be honest. But that's what soccer is; it's a full 90 minutes. So that's how it ends up at the end of the day."
The team hits the road to take on Gotham FC next week before returning to Sandy on Sept. 28 against Louisville.
