2019 Royals Player Profiles: Sydney Miramontez

If this was the year for Sydney Miramontez to make an impact for Utah Royals FC, 2019 was it. After the 2018 season with 10 appearances and 639 minutes for Utah, and with the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup taking Becky Sauerbrunn, Rachel Corsie, and Katie Bowen out of the NWSL for the summer, Miramontez had her opportunity to be a regular in 2019.

For a month, from June 16 to July 12, Miramontez made four appearances for Utah Royals FC, beginning with 28 minutes. She then started and played the full 90 in two games before playing the final two minutes as a sub on July 12 in the loss versus Sky Blue FC. This would be the last time Miramontez saw time on the pitch as she spent the rest of the season on the bench until a right foot injury in September sidelined her for 2019. In those four appearances, Miramontez completed 64.7% of her passes and successfully made 71.4% of her tackles.

Much of Miramontez’s lack of playing time had to do with Laura Harvey not going to her bench when needed. Additionally, with Kelley O’Hara and Becca Moros injured, Miramontez would have been the next choice as a starter for the backline. However, Harvey converted Mallory Weber to outside back instead.

Despite the drop in minutes and appearances in 2019, the club exercised Miramontez’s contract option for the 2020 season.