Utah Royals extend Bay FC’s winless streak with a 2-0 victory at PayPal Park

Bay FC’s winless streak reached 11 matches when the Utah Royals scored a 2-0 victory at PayPal Park on Saturday night.

The loss snapped a two-game unbeaten streak and dropped Bay FC (4-11-7) to 13th place in the 14-team NWSL. Bay FC was looking to tie a club record with three consecutive non-losses.

Aisha Solórzano scored her first NWSL goal and Utah won its third in a row. The Royals (5-11-6) set a team record with a seven-match undefeated streak. Even with the impressive form, the Royals sit 12th in the standings and eight points behind the playoff line.

Danish international Janni Thomsen opened the scoring in the seventh minute. After Paige Monaghan switched the ball wide, Thomsen took a touch into the box and blasted a low shot into the far corner. Monaghan now has a goal or an assist in five consecutive matches.

On her 17th appearance for the Royals, Solórzano made it 2-0 in the 18th minute. After her initial shot was blocked, Solórzano finished from a tight angle at the near post and became the first Guatemalan player to score in the NWSL.

Bay FC’s Penelope Hocking made her return from injury in the contest, entering as a substitute in the 66th minute and helping her club push for a goal as time ticked down.

Royals’ forward Lara Prašnikar came off the bench in the 54th minute to make her league debut, making her the Slovenian to play in the NWSL.

Utah rested starting goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn and handed rookie Mia Justus her second appearance. Justus finished the match with seven saves including an acrobatic double-save in the 58th minute and registered the first clean sheet of her professional career.