Sandy • The North Carolina Courage may have won the National Women’s Soccer title last season, and the Utah Royals FC may have missed the playoffs by just two points.
But there was one thing the Royals held over the Courage from both team’s 2018 campaigns: Utah never lost to North Carolina. In fact, it was the only NWSL team not to fall to the Courage all year. The Royals drew two games and won another in three games against North Carolina.
And while what transpired last season is in the past, not losing to the defending NWSL champions last season gives the Royals at least some confidence going into their first matchup of the year with the Courage on Sunday.