Utah Royals FC Reserves begin inaugural season tonight

Utah Royals FC announced today the official roster, coaching staff, and first match for their new URFC Reserves team.

Succeeding Real Salt Lake Women as the local club affiliate on the second tier of the women’s soccer pyramid, the new club joins the Mountain Conference of Women’s Premier Soccer League’s Central Region. They will play two matches each against their conference foes, Salt Lake City-based Utah Arrows SC and Utah Red Devils, as well as three Colorado clubs; FC Boulder, Indios Denver FC, and Colorado Rapids Women.

The team boasts an impressive coaching staff, headed by Royals FC assistant coach Amy LePeilbet. Amy won the NWSL Championship twice with FC Kansas City, and the 2012 Olympic gold medal with the US Women’s National Team. Joining LePeilbet as assistant coaches are Liz Bogus and Colette Smith. Bogus is also a member of the two FCKC championship squad, and is a native of Provo, Utah, and has been part of the University of Utah staff. Smith is a Davis High and Brigham Young University standout who also played for RSL Women for several seasons. She also was added to the URFC roster for one match as a international replacement player, though she did not enter the match. Current Royals FC goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart serves as the goalkeeper coach for the Reserves.

The roster has 20 current college players, and 6 recent graduates, mostly from Utah universities. Notable names on the roster include Hailey North(graduated), Haylee Cacciacarne, and Ireland Dunn from the U of U, Elise Flake, Mikayla Colohan, and Cameron Tucker from BYU, and Sadie Brockbank and Hannah Bruce from Utah Valley University.

The team will play their home matches at the Zions Bank Real Academy in Herriman, Utah, starting tonight May 15th at 5:15 PM when they host Utah Arrows SC. Admission is free so be sure to come enjoy the best young talent in Utah as they lay the foundation for developmental soccer in the Royals FC organization.