Utah Royals beginning to round out roster with 4 additions


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SANDY — The Utah Royals’ inaugural roster for the 2018 National Women’s Soccer League season is beginning to look like … well, a roster.

The Royals announced four additions to the team roster, all from previously acquired rights to the now-defunct FC Kansas City players that include long-known goalkeeper and U.S. international Nicole Barnhart.

In addition to Barnhart, head coach Laura Harvey also announced the additions of defenders Alex Arlitt and Katie Bowen, as well as midfielder Rebecca Moros.

“Continuing to add in experience and quality to our roster was very important when we took over the franchise,” Harvey said in a statement from the club. “Our aim was always to bring back the core group that know what it takes to be successful in this league.”

Barnhart, a 36-year-old goalkeeper who played collegiately at Stanford, is widely considered among the best in the world at the position, boasting 54 caps with the U.S. women’s national team, two Olympic gold medals and a World Cup runner-up finish in 2011.

Barnhart made 108 career starts with FC Kansas City, and won league goalkeeper of the year honors in 2013 prior to league championships in 2014 and 2015 with the Blues.

Known by her nickname “Barney” by U.S. teammates, Barnhart joins 2018 NWSL college draft pick E.J. Proctor of Duke and former Boston Breakers netminder Abby Smith in Sandy.

Photo: Craig Mitchelldyer, AP Photo
Photo: Craig Mitchelldyer, AP Photo

Auckland native and New Zealand international Bowen is a 23-year-old veteran of the league who was drafted by FC Kansas City in the 2016 NWSL college draft. One of the youngest players to debut with the All-Whites in national team history, Bowen made her senior international debut in 2011 against regional rival Australia.

Moros comes to Utah with eight seasons of experience in the United States’ top flight of women’s soccer. Drafted in the 2009 Women’s Pro Soccer college draft by the Washington Freedom, the 32-year-old midfielder scored 11 goals in 68 games with the Freedom, and won the 2011 WPS title with Western New York Flash. She also played briefly in Japan before returning to North America with the Portland Thorns in NWSL.

Arlitt is a third-year professional, joining FC Kansas City via the 2016 college draft after a star-studded career at LSU. The 24-year-old defender made 87 appearances for the Tigers, the second-most in school history, and helped LSU to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances.

The additions of the former Kansas City players brings Utah’s inaugural roster to 23 players before the start of NWSL preseason next Monday in Herriman. Teams have up to 32 roster spots during the preseason, according to the most recent NWSL roster rules, but must trim the rosters to 25 and 20 players before the start of league play March 24.

Once preseason begins, teams are required to make a decision on non-contract players within 15 days of the player’s first practice.

Utah Royals FC 2018 roster

Name Pos. Previous team
Becky Sauerbrunn DF FC Kansas City
Desiree Scott MF FC Kansas City
Taylor Lytle MF Sky Blue FC
Kelley O’Hara FW Sky Blue FC
Gunnhildur Jonsdottir MF Valerenga (Norway)
Diana Matheson MF Seattle Reign
Nicole Barnhart GK FC Kansas City
Taylor Campbell Isom DF BYU
E.J. Proctor GK Duke
Erika Tymrak MF FC Kansas City
Mandy Laddish MF FC Kansas City
Brooke Elby DF Boston Breakers
Katie Stengel FW Boston Breakers
Abby Smith GK Boston Breakers
Amy Rodriguez FW FC Kansas City
Meagan Kelly MF FC Kansas City
Brittany Ratcliffe FW FC Kansas City
Alexa Newfield MF FC Kansas City
Sydney Miramontez DF FC Kansas City
Lo’eau Labonta MF FC Kansas City
Katie Bowen DF FC Kansas City
Rebecca Moros MF FC Kansas City
Alex Arlitt DF FC Kansas City
*announced to date

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