Utah Royals back to 2nd in NWSL after season sweep of Orlando Pride

SANDY — The universe seemed to be conspiring against Utah Royals FC when they flew into Orlando for a road trip against the Orlando Pride.

After a cross-country flight, the Royals struggled through central Florida weather and traffic, arrived late at the hotel, and several of them were kept up until 3 a.m. local time with a combination of construction noises and other shenanigans.

“We had a very rough week,” head coach Jimmy Coenraets said on the KMYU postgame show.

The juice was worth the squeeze Saturday night.

Cloé Lacasse had a goal and an assist, and Paige Cronin scored the game-winner off the bench as the Utah Royals climbed back into a tie for second in the NWSL with a 2-1 win over the Orlando Pride.

Mandy McGlynn made one save to preserve the win for Utah (12-3-7, 39 points), which won for a franchise-best fifth time on the road to clinch the season sweep of Orlando (8-2-12, 26 points).

But the brightest star was Lacasse, the former Arsenal striker who used a late night and an hour-long weather delay to push her team toward the top of the NWSL table — and the top of her own individual accolades, too.

“How good is she, huh?” Utah center back Kate Del Fava said interrupting a postgame interview with Lacasse. “She’s so good.”

To paraphrase Lacasse, she had help, too.

“I’m proud of the group for pushing the way they did through the second half, and getting the win,” she said.

Kiana Palacios sets it up 👀
Cloé Lacasse sends it home 💥 pic.twitter.com/lDG0e23ne2

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 30, 2026

Utah Royals tackle weather, Pride in Orlando

After the lengthy weather delay, the Royals made three changes to the starting lineup from last week’s 4-2 away loss to the San Diego Wave. Madison Hammond made her first start in midfield since July 10 after fellow midfielder Narumi picked up a hamstring injury, and Kiana Palacios returned to the XI for the first time in nearly a month after returning from an injury.

Former BYU standout Brecken Mozingo, the Sandy native who had developed a role as a super sub with her hometown club, was also unavailable due to concussion protocol for the trip east.

Utah out-shot the Pride 9-3 in the first half, but neither side found a shot on goal until the 40th minute when Cece Delzer’s left-footed attempt in front of goal was saved by Cosette Morché to keep the match scoreless.

Instead, Banda broke through in the 44th minute, converting the Pride’s first shot on target into an empty net after cutting past Royals goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn at the edge of the penalty area en route to the host’s 1-0 halftime lead.

Lacasse needed less than five minutes to find the equalizer. After Delzer found Palacios with a through ball down the right side in the 50th minute, the California-born Mexican international squared a well-weighted ball across the face of goal to Lacasse for the Canadian striker’s 16th goal contribution of the year — tied for the second-most in the 16-team league.

“It was a gritty goal,” Lacasse said of the goal, before adding: “No one is going to go on the pitch and out-work us.”

The Royals made good use of fresh legs in the 63rd minute. Moments after Cronin and Madison Hammond came on as second-half substitutes, Cronin scored her second goal of the year to put Utah in front.

Lacasse dished her league-high 10th assist of the season with a cross to the the top of the box, where Cronin finished a one-touch rip into the back of the net in the 69th minute for the Royals’ first lead of the match.

“I knew Paige was calling for it, she wanted it, and I’m glad she did,” Lacasse said. “That was an incredible goal.”

A rocket to the back of the net by our No. 4 🩷🚀 pic.twitter.com/iTg1vlrMbD

— Utah Royals FC (@UtahRoyalsFC) August 30, 2026

Lacasse had another chance in the first minute of second-half stoppage time, but the Canadian international was pulled down by Oihane Hernández inside the penalty box. After initially signaling a penalty kick, head official Matt Thompson reviewed the play with the video-assistant referee (VAR) and rescinded the penalty kick in favor of a handball against Lacasse.

Next up for Utah Royals FC

Utah returns home to host NWSL newcomer Boston Legacy FC on Friday night at America First Field (7:30 p.m. MT, NWSL+).