Kiana Palacios’ first NWSL goal helps Utah Royals FC to rivalry win over Denver Summit

SANDY — The Utah Royals’ home winning streak rolled on Saturday afternoon.

Kiana Palacios scored her first goal for Utah Royals FC, and Mina Tanaka notched her fourth goal via second-half penalty kick to help the Royals extend their club-record unbeaten streak to nine matches with a 2-1 win over expansion club Denver Summit FC in front of an announced crowd of 19,274 tickets distributed Saturday afternoon at America First Field.

It’s the franchise-record fourth consecutive home win for Utah, which improved to 7-2-2 to tie the Portland Thorns with 23 points atop the 16-team NWSL. The Thorns and Royals play next Saturday, May 30 before a CBA-mandated month-long break during the FIFA men’s World Cup.

But before setting up the top-of-the-table showdown, Utah had to take care of business in the first edition of the Rocky Mountain rivalry formally branded as the “Continental Divide.”

Palacios picked a heckuva time to score her first NWSL goal.

The Mexican international who scored 83 goals in 162 appearances with Club América from 2021-26 scored her first since joining Utah prior to the start of the season.

“I knew it was getting there; it was knocking,” Palacios said. “There was no need to put frustration or pressure on top of me. Just keep going out there, finding the net — and one day, it will go in.”

After initially losing possession in the final third, Cloé Lacasse toe-poked the ball directly in front of Palacios in the 20th minute for a right-footed finish that gave Utah a 1-0 lead.

That Lacasse forced the turnover off the press is fitting, as the Canadian international with three goals and two assists has been among the Royals’ more dynamic players at pressing an opponent’s defense.

Pressured applied, goal secured pic.twitter.com/wK4Q4TQzYA

— Utah Royals FC (@UtahRoyalsFC) May 23, 2026

Though she lost the ball with a radical slippage that resembled something akin to a breakdance maneuver, possession wasn’t lost for long.

“I think it’s becoming almost instinctive,” Lacasse said. “I saw that her first touch wasn’t necessarily the greatest, so it gave us an opportunity. I was lucky to get that touch, it went in a good place, and Ki was able to get her first goal. I’m happy for her, as well.”

Yasmeen Ryan equalized in first-half stoppage time, finishing a cross from Delanie Sheehan to help the visitors level at the break.

Utah nearly led again less than four minutes after halftime from a goal by Lacasse. But the play was marked dead for an offsides violation by Cece Delzer.

Instead, Aye Oke fouled Lacasse near the edge of the penalty in the 68th minute, and Mina Tanaka slipped the spot kick inside the right post past the outstretched arms of former Utah Royals goalkeeper Abby Smith to put Utah back in front, 2-1.

Tanaka’s penalty is the seventh consecutive successful penalty kick taken by the Royals, whose streak dates back to the original version of the franchise in 2018 (prior to relocating to Kansas City).

Utah goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn made one save to preserve the win.