URFC Reserves win WPSL Central Region

Utah Royals FC Reserves completed a successful two-match trip to Minnesota this weekend, winning the Women’s Premier Soccer League Central Region Championship.

The first playoff wins in team history came on back-to-back days, beginning with a 2-0 win in the region semifinal on Saturday over Fire & Ice SC. Team scoring leader Hailey North struck first for the Reserves, heading in a cross from Cameron Tucker in the 52nd minute. Tucker would score herself in the 59th after a nice ball out of the back found Elise Flake with space on the left, taking the ball to the end line before sending the low cross to a cutting Tucker for the tap in.

With less than 24 hours to rest and recover, the team was back in action on Sunday to face Fortuna Tulsa for the region final. The Reserves would do their scoring in the first half of this 2-1 win, with a brace by Mikayla Colohan coming in the 40th and 45th minutes. Both goals were scored from corner kicks, the first being headed directly in, and the second tucked away after a bit of a scramble in front of the goal. Tulsa would pull one back in the 68th minute, placing a dangerous cross from the left that the URFC keeper came out to try and clear, but the attacker beat her to the ball to head it home.

The ladies will come home and rest for a few days before heading to Oklahoma for the WPSL Championship, facing East Region champions Motor City FC in the second national semifinal. The winner will face the victor of the earlier semifinal match between West Region winners Seattle Sounders FC Women, and South Region champs Pensacola FC. Kickoff will be at 7 PM MDT from Stillwater, OK this coming Friday, with the final on Sunday.

Information on how to watch the match will be updated as it becomes available.