Utah Royals FC just dropped a massive 5-1 statement win against the Portland Thorns, making it clear they’re a force to reckon with in the NWSL. This dominant performance saw them score the most goals in a single match in club history, even after conceding a goal just 34 seconds into the game.
Royals Prove They’re Unshakeable After Early Shocker
Can you believe it? Portland’s Sophia Wilson put one in the net a mere 34 seconds into the match. That could have been a disaster for most teams, but not this Utah squad. They settled right in and completely dominated the Thorns after that initial shocker. Head coach Jimmy Coenraets told reporters, “If you believe in yourself, nothing’s impossible. I think that’s a reality.” Midfielder CeCe Delzer, who scored a brace, echoed that sentiment. She noted the “shell-shock” but added, “I’ve seen this group bounce back so many times… we didn’t want to harp on it too much and just remember there was 89 minutes left.” Forward Cloé Lacasse, who had three assists, said the team had to “take a breath and make sure that we were going to control the rest of that game.” And control it they did! This win capped off a wild week, coming after a 4-1 victory over North Carolina Courage and a 1-0 loss to the Washington Spirit, a team in the last two NWSL championships.
Goals Galore And A League-Leading Offense
Delzer was clutch, netting the Royals’ first two goals to equalize in the 35th minute and then snag the lead in the 47th. But the scoring didn’t stop there. Sandy native and former BYU star Brecken Mozingo scored her first goal of the season three minutes after coming off the bench in the 68th minute. The Royals then went on a spree, with Kianna Palacios finding the net in the 79th and center back Kate Del Fava adding the final exclamation point in the 89th. This wasn’t a fluke either. Mozingo’s goal made her the 11th goal scorer for Utah this season, highlighting their unselfish, scoring-by-committee approach. Coenraets loves it, saying, “Everyone you bring on the pitch is doing their jobs and is trying to contribute to what the team needs. I think that’s very special this season.” It’s working, too: Utah’s 31 goals are the most in the entire league, and their 186 shots only trail San Diego. For context, they only scored 28 goals *all of last season* in 2025. That’s a massive jump!
CeCe Delzer summed it up perfectly: “This group just has the ability to bounce back. We’re not going to let anything really jar us. Obviously, it’s not ideal giving up a goal in the first minute or so, but I think it just puts us in uncomfortable positions, the positions that we need to not shy away from.” The Royals are here to compete, here to stay in the mix, and the NWSL has been officially put on notice. This season is shaping up to be a wild one, and Utah is clearly coming to play for keeps.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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