Utah footprints all over 0-0 USWNT draw vs. Colombia in Sandy

SANDY — A pair of second-half substitutes with Utah ties made their presence felt on both sides of the ball for the U.S. Women's National Team against Colombia Thursday at America First Field in a 0-0 draw.

Former Utah Royal Becky Sauerbrunn entered the game immediately after halftime and was a crucial part of the U.S. defense getting the clean sheet against a Colombia team that made it to the quarterfinals of this year's Women's World Cup, one round further than the U.S. made it.

BYU alum Ashley Hatch entered the match for Alex Morgan in the 68th minute and had the best scoring chance from the run of play just minutes later, outrunning the last Colombian defender to a long ball and getting a shot on frame that the keeper had to force out of bounds for one of nine USWNT corner kicks on the night.

The shot by Hatch — or "Hatchy" as she's known on the national team — was one of just two shots that made it on frame out of nine total by the USWNT.

"(The coaches told me) just to go out and have a little bit more fight defensively trying to win the ball high up the field and just create opportunities to score goals," Hatch said. "We fell a bit short of that, but that was my goal going in."

It was Sauerbrunn's first match back in Utah since the return of the Royals was announced in March, and she said she's "really excited" to have them coming back to the NWSL and getting the chance to play in Utah, describing herself as "more of a mountain person than a beach person."

"I enjoyed my two years that I played here," Sauerbrunn, who now plays for the Portland Thorns, said. "The facilities are great. I also think the fan support that we got here when I was playing was second or third in the entire league. I think this is a great market for soccer, so it's good to have the Royals back."

The USWNT got a visit from former national team player and current Royals head coach Amy Rodriguez earlier in the week, with Morgan recreating the moment she came in for Rodriguez 13 years ago in Utah for her first national team appearance.

Rodriguez and the Royals will undoubtedly have a chance to add one or more national team members, either from the NWSL expansion draft or free agency in the coming months, making the coach's connection with the players all the more relevant.

The national team heads to San Diego next for a rematch against Colombia Sunday before returning to their clubs as the NWSL playoffs continue.

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