SANDY, Utah- Ally Sentnor provided the dramatic game-winning goal on a late-stoppage time penalty kick to give the Utah Royals a much-needed 1-0 win over Chicago.
The Royals (1-3-1, 4 points) hosted the Chicago Stars (1-4-0, 3 points) at America First Field on Friday, April 18. Utah began the night as one of two winless NWSL teams, alongside the North Carolina Courage. Chicago’s lone win places them 12th in the 14-team league.
RELATED: LHM Sports + Entertainment CEO Steve Starks Reveals Soccer Stadium ‘Master Plan’
The penalty kick was Sentnor’s first PK of her young NWSL career. The shot was the only attempt on-frame for Utah in the offensively starved game. Chicago also attempted one shot on goal.
First Half
Sentnor opened the match with a near-Olimpico in the first six minutes. The former No. 1 overall pick saw her corner kick carom off the right post harmlessly, keeping the match scoreless.
OFF THE POST 🤯
Ally Sentnor’s Olimpico is denied by the post! pic.twitter.com/UykD3Y2Aau
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 19, 2025
Two minutes later, the Royals dipped into their bench for the first time when Nuria Rábano was forced to the sideline with an injury. Madison Pogarch came on for Rábano.
Chicago generated a series of chances in the second ten minutes, but Utah’s defense held strong in front of Mandy McGlynn in goal.
RELATED: Miller Sports + Entertainment Announces Purchase Of Real Salt Lake, Utah Royals
The home team’s second-best scoring chance ended when Janni Thomsen’s run saw her shot hook into the side-netting.
Chicago’s Lumila broke the defensive backline and looked to have a scoring chance. McGlynn went above the six-yard box to turn Ludmila away, creating a collision that earned the Stars forward a yellow card.
The first half ended 0-0.
Nothing separates us at the half pic.twitter.com/ERqBaspS5E
— Utah Royals FC (@UtahRoyalsFC) April 19, 2025
Utah controlled possession in the opening 45, controlling the ball nearly 58 percent of the time. Chicago claimed a 6-2 advantage in shots, though neither team was credited with a shot on goal.
Second Half
2024 Royals Iron Woman Kate Del Fava went down with a left knee injury early in the half. After extended medical attention from the trainers, Del Fava remained on the pitch for the shorthanded Royals.
Bianca St-Georges made a beautiful pass across the face of the goal in the 59th minute, but the ball scooted through a gauntlet of players without a touch.
Utah kept coming, putting the Stars on the defensive for several minutes. The attack came up empty in the offensively challenged contest.
RELATED: Royals Fall To Portland Thorns In Home Shutout
65′ | Cece’s royal debut has arrived!!#UTAvCHI | 0-0 pic.twitter.com/3hnuxrfCtq
— Utah Royals FC (@UtahRoyalsFC) April 19, 2025
MLS veteran Cece Kizer made her Royals debut after replacing Thomsen.
Nine minutes of stoppage time gave Utah just enough time to earn its first win.
The Royals’ attack controlled the final minutes and created a penalty kick opportunity in the ninth minute of stoppage. Following the use of AVR, Utah was awarded a PK for a foul committed against Dana Foederer.
LATE GAME HEROICS FOR THE ROYALS 👑
Ally Sentnor steps up and buries a PK in the 99th minute 😱 pic.twitter.com/4akn234Nrs
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 19, 2025
Ally Sentnor blasted the penalty shot past a diving Alyssa Naeher for the club’s first win of 2025.
Follow the Utah Royals with KSL Sports
Live radio calls of every Utah Royals game can be found on KSLSports.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.
Take us with you wherever you go.
Brian Preece is a KSLSports.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
