Utah Royals FC Open 2025 Season With Home Draw Against Bay FC
Mar 15, 2025, 7:32 PM
SANDY, UTAH - MARCH 01: General view inside the stadium prior to the MLS match between Real Salt Lake and Seattle Sounders at America First Field on March 01, 2025 in Sandy, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SANDY, Utah – New addition Bianca St Georges scored, but the Utah Royals couldn’t maintain a lead, drawing with Bay FC 1-1.
The Utah Royals opened the 2025 campaign at American First Field on Saturday, March 15, against Bay FC.
Starting the season by splitting the points pic.twitter.com/VXLV4GGwln
— Utah Royals FC (@UtahRoyalsFC) March 16, 2025
First Half
Utah started on their back foot, conceding three corners in the opening minutes. The set pieces yielded nothing, but Bay FC looked like the more composed squad through six minutes.
the GSL kit in action with our xi 💙 pic.twitter.com/ZllBNOHShb
— Utah Royals FC (@UtahRoyalsFC) March 15, 2025
The Royal’s first run came in the 11th minute when Mina Tanaka snuck behind the defense. Tanaka dribbled into the box, but Bay FC deflected her shot out of play, giving Utah its first corner.
Moments later, goalkeeper Mady McGlynn played a through ball over the defense and into space. Bianca St-Georges chased the pass down and toe-punched it over the top of Jordan Silkowitz for the season’s first goal.
We loooooooove a GK assist
Mandy with the perfect placement. Bianca with the perfect finish. pic.twitter.com/lz2YFa4cTk
— Utah Royals FC (@UtahRoyalsFC) March 15, 2025
Bay had a chance to even the match in the 29th minute, but an offside ended the run.
Utah’s first substitution came when Janni Thomsen replaced Paige Manghan in the 34th minute.
34' | Janni makes her NWSL debut as Paige leaves the match#UTAvBAY | 1-0 pic.twitter.com/zYRzQksgW1
— Utah Royals FC (@UtahRoyalsFC) March 16, 2025
Seconds later, Bay FC’s Racheal Kundananji earned a yellow card for a late tackle on Thomsen.
Bay scored an equalizer from distance late in the half. Kiki Pickett stepped into a bouncing ball about 24 yards out and launched a rocket that beat McGlynn just inside the right post. The goal came in the 44th minute.
45 down, 45 on deck 🔜 pic.twitter.com/y1PmtAdUZB
— Utah Royals FC (@UtahRoyalsFC) March 16, 2025
Second Half
St. Georges earned the Royals first booking in the 48th minute.
Bay FC created a chance that resulted in an open net, but the ball had too much pace and raced away from Tess Boade and out of play.
Utah bounced back with their chance, but St. Georges’ shot sailed wide.
In the 63rd minute, the Royals went to the bench, bringing Brecken Mozingo and Aisha Solorzano on for fresh legs.
63' | Brecken comes in for Macey 🔁#UTAvBAY | 1-1 pic.twitter.com/k3ytWHmOZH
— Utah Royals FC (@UtahRoyalsFC) March 16, 2025
A Utah set-piece in the 77th minute gave Ally Sentnor a good look at goal, but the former first-overall pick sent the shot high.
Utah picked up its third yellow card in an increasingly physical match when Nuria Rábano was carded for a hard foul just outside the eighteen. Bay played the free kick short, and McGlynn smothered a shot.
Sentnor had another chance in the 89th minute. After shaking a defender, the North Carolina product rocketed a shot off the crossbar.
Three minutes of stoppage time made no difference, with the match ending in a 1-1 draw.
Royals unveil Great Salt Lake kit for 2025
When Utah returned to the NWSL in 2024, the club wore only its two primary kits: a gold jersey with navy blue accents and a navy jersey with gold accents.
This is our life's mission. Time to go and get it 👑 pic.twitter.com/PvHp99nvEe
— Utah Royals FC (@UtahRoyalsFC) March 15, 2025
The new kit follows the same color scheme. It features a predominantly blue jersey with a gold border, along with blue and gold shorts.
In a press release, the club gave an in-depth explanation of the design and what inspired it.
The design of the ‘Great Salt Lake’ kit is inspired by the defining natural elements of Utah, paying tribute to the landscapes that shape life in the state. Designed to highlight the beauty and significance of the Great Salt Lake, the ‘Great Salt Lake’ kit aims to bring awareness to the ongoing efforts to preserve this vital natural resource.
The kit will serve as the club’s secondary for the upcoming season, replacing last year’s plain navy blue jersey. Utah will retain its sponsors, America First Credit Union and Intermountain Health, from 2024.
The Utah Royals FC and kit-sponsor America First Credit Union are unveiling the new threads, which will contribute $10,000 to the Great Salt Lake Trust.
The 2025 Nike Utah Royals secondary kit 👑 pic.twitter.com/mAtI7RMMKt
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) February 28, 2025
Royals Vice President of Marketing Tyler Gibbons explained that the club is honored to be able to wear a jersey that represents something much bigger than soccer.
“Our organization is incredibly honored to represent the wonderful state of Utah.” Gibbons said. “For us to be able to shine a spotlight on the iconic Great Salt Lake with the donation from America First Credit Union & the kit design defines what our club is all about. Community first.”
However, the hope is that the impact will extend further than the Wasatch Front.
Follow the Utah Royals with KSL Sports
Live radio calls of every game can be found on sports.ksl.com. Select games will be broadcast on the KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM/1280 AM) and KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM/1160 AM).
Find KSL Sports coverage of the Utah Royals here.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X and Instagram and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
