Utah Royals Match Recap: Kansas City Current 3/14

Welcome to the Royal Buzz! The first(?) and only(?) blog solely dedicated to the Utah Royals.

In this blog post, we will delve into the latest match recap, highlighting the key moments that defined the game and showcasing the talent of the players. Whether you are a die-hard fan or a newcomer to the sport, this recap will hopefully provide you with a comprehensive overview of the match.

Match Overview

The Utah Royals faced off against Kansas City in a thrilling encounter that kept fans on the edge of their seats. The match took place at the iconic CPKC Stadium, known for its vibrant atmosphere and passionate supporters. As the first game of the season for both teams, this was the first chance for fans to see the impacts of the teams' off-season changes. For more information on the Utah Royal's off-season, see my previous post.

Royal Review Vibe Check:

• First Half: 👑 Royally Ready 👑

• Second Half: 🤕 Send Help.. (literally, we need more depth)

The "Who's Available?!" Scramble

With an unavailable list longer than a CVS receipt (but shorter than our longest "unavailable" last year), the Royals had fewer options to choose from than they probably would have liked for their first game of the season (injuries: McGlynn, Rabano, Miura, Loera, Brown and international duty: Tanaka and Moriya). A whopping 4 of last Saturday's starters made their debuts with the Utah Royals, and it will be interesting to see which of them stay in the starting XI as more players become available.

Overall, the team ended up playing in more of a 4-3-3 instead of the 4-2-1-3 formation indicated by the team's starting lineup. With Simmonds getting stuck up the right side of the pitch, Hammond stayed back centrally to provide coverage and play the traditional CDM/6 role. Kizer adjusted forward, working with Prasnikar offensively to move the ball into the attacking third, acting as two 10s.

Royal Debuts

Five new players debuted for the Utah Royals in their opening game last Saturday:

• Kameron Simmonds

• Tatumn Milazzo

• Madison Hammond

• Kiana Palacios

• Kalea Eichenberger

The Good, The Bad, and The Concerning?

Overall Flow

The Utah Royals came out of the gate hot last Saturday. The attack momentum was mostly in the Royal's favor the first half of the game, giving the fans and team hope against 2025's Shield winners. Overall, the team held its own, and while we would have loved a win, the team's solid performance was a welcome surprise. With untested starters in our lineup, many were preparing for disaster, but a solid Royals defense (much thanks to KDF) and efficient up-field progression made us a real contender. Unfortunately, however, the team was unable to get behind the Current's defense, and most of our shots were taken from outside the box.

(FOTMOB)

Shot map (Royals in Yellow) (FOTMOB)

First Half Highlights

• Chemistry: You can see clear chemistry on the left side of the pitch between KDF, Milazzo, and Lacasse. Passes are clean and efficient.

  
  

• GOAL!!! (35'): Milazzo heads the ball into goal following a Lacasse pass off a short corner delivered by Mozingo

  
  

• Lucky Breaks: The right side is struggling, and frankly we're lucky Simmonds didn't get burned on a few positional issues against KC's strong attack

Second Half Slump

• Lagging Behind: Following a strong first half, the Royals struggled to keep up momentum and absorb pressure from KC.

  
  

• Messy Defense: Defensive scrambles led to long lobs straight back to KC, slow recoveries from line-breaking passes, and overall disorganization leading to two conceded goals in the 2nd half.

  
  

• The Sentnor goal (69'): This goal, Sentor's first for KC since her departure from UT last summer, is the ultimate 'ex-girlfriend' moment. Seeing our former star score because of a bad defensive screening mishap felt super unnecessary. Hammond essentially ends up screening Riehl, who was actively defending Sentnor, creating space for Sentnor to get a shot off.

Player Highlights

The obvious standouts this match were Cloe Lacasse, Tatumn Milazzo, and Kate Del Fava. Let's take a look at each of their performances and top contributions last weekend.

Cloe Lacasse

Lacasse at full 90' fitness is something Royals fans should truly be rejoicing. Simply put, Lacasse looked REALLY good last Saturday. With 80% passing accuracy and a beautiful assist to Tatumn Milazzo off a short corner, Lacasse consistently put the ball in dangerous positions at the feet (or head) of her teammates. Unfortunately, with some more seasoned Royals' out, Lacasse was the only chance creator with as many touches on the ball as Mozingo and Palacios combined. Read more on Lacasse's performance last Saturday here.

Tatumn Milazzo

With 4 goals in 4 years with the Chicago Stars, nobody expected Milazzo to score the first Royals goal of the 2026 season, but BOY are we glad she did! In addition to her offensive contributions, Milazzo was in excellent form in her first game back from last year's pre-season ACL injury. She won 6 out of 7 defensive duels, 3 out of 3 tackles, and had 3 interceptions.

Kate Del Fava

KDF and Milazzo worked well together in the back, and with the additional defensive support from Milazzo and Riehl, she was able to become a key distributor (71 total touches - most of anyone on the pitch) in addition to defender. KDF moved play up the pitch with successful long balls forward and an overall passing accuracy of 82%. She was also a key piece in the backline with 3 clearances, 4 interceptions, and a blocked shot.

Homework for Next Week

Our right is essentially "under construction." Simmonds, Hammond, and Mozingo struggled to progress the ball and keep possession, leading to missed passes and turnovers from end to end. While frustrating, this is to be expected considering this was Simmonds' first NWSL game and Hammond's first game with the Royals. Improved communication/chemistry and some upskilling on technical abilities could help in this arena. Simmonds will need some time to get settled and figure out positioning to ensure she's providing adequate coverage on the right wing.

Ultimately, though, Simmonds and Mozingo are all but certainly non-starters once we have our full squad back. Hammond's place in the starting lineup is still to be determined, but one can expect Narumi to take her place once she's healed from her injury.

Substitutions

With only 7 subs available (the minimum allowable amount), the Royals already had to dive into its depth to come up with its starting XI, leaving few options available for fresh legs in the 2nd half. Of note, Tejada was put in as a left back, indicating that either a) Coenraets is still working out Tejada's best position on the pitch, or b) Tejada's adaptability enables her to fill in anywhere in the defensive third, or c) we just didn't have any other defensive options

Minute	In	Out
61'	Thomsen (on a minutes restriction)	Simmonds
74'	Nagai	Prasnikar
75'	Tejada	Milazzo
84'	Ream	Mozingo
84'	Eichenberger (non-roster invitee signed with a national team replacement contract)	Palacios

Looking Ahead

As the Utah Royals continue on to their 2nd game this season, fans can expect a similar roster, as many of the players unavailable last week will likely be unavailable this week as well. Hopefully Thomsen is off her minutes restriction, so she can start at right back and provide more passing options up the pitch. The team's resilience and determination will be key as they strive for success in the league.

Match Preview

• Next Fixture: The Royals will face off against the San Diego Wave at the home opener in Sandy, UT this Sunday at 5 PM.

  
  

• What to Expect: The rising offensive Brazilian powerhouse Ludmilla was signed by San Diego during the off-season, and we should be wary of break away runs and a high volume of shots against Royals back-up keeper Justus. That being said, Ludmilla struggled in her first game with SD last week. Of her 6 shots, even though 5 were in the box, only 3 were on target and she had low passing accuracy.

  
  

• Previous Record: The Royals have lost in each of their 4 previous matchups against the Wave. With the team's performance last week and the fans' energy in the stadium, this Sunday is the perfect opportunity to turn the tide on the Wave.

  
  

Conclusion

The Utah Royals' latest match was a testament to the team's determination and potential. As we look ahead, the excitement continues to build, and fans can’t wait to see what the next match will bring.

Which debut impressed you the most? Are you worried about the right-side chemistry, or just chalking it up to early-season jitters? Drop your takes below, and see you Sunday - don't forget to wear black!

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