Utah Royals sign New Zealand midfielder to help with depth, scoring struggles

HERRIMAN — It hasn't been an easy return to the NWSL for the second-to-last-place Utah Royals through four games, but some help is on the way to give the team a boost.

The club announced the signing of 21-year-old New Zealand midfielder Macey Fraser to a three-year contract Tuesday, with an option for a fourth year. The move comes at an important moment for the "banged up" team after the Royals' second straight loss to drop them to 1-3 and 13th place on the young season.

"Macey is a player that can make an immediate impact on our team," sporting director Kelly Cousins said in a statement. "Not only does she have the temperament, but has the technical and physical abilities to succeed in the NWSL. We are excited to welcome her to the club and to watch her develop here in Utah."

Fraser has five appearances for the Football Ferns women's national team of New Zealand, with two goals so far in her international career. She fits a glaring need for a Royals squad that has been shut out in two of its first four matches and is placing an emphasis on "building" up the field toward goal and being "front-footed and aggressive."

"We want to dominate possession, and I just felt like against Orlando last weekend (we had) too many turnovers," head coach Amy Rodriguez said. "We were our own worst enemy. We didn't take care of the ball with pride like we normally do, and that's something that I'm really trying to hit home with the group this week."

The injury bug hit the team early and often this season, with starting right back Imani Dorsey out for the season with an Achilles tear, and rotation players such as Ify Onumonu and Carly Nelson sitting out the Orlando match due to minor injury or illness.

"Injuries happen, which is unfortunate to the game (and) to the players, but I know our players will be doing everything they can to get back," captain Paige Monaghan said. "The players who are available are stepping up into those new challenges, new positions and new opportunities.

"At the end of the day, you're given an opportunity, and it's what you do with it. And I'm really looking forward to my teammates who get this opportunity this weekend to show what they can do."

The arrival and integration of Fraser into the team depends on international visa approval; but in the meantime, rookies like BYU alumnae Brecken Mozingo and Olivia Griffitts are stepping up to the challenge and into the starting lineup.

"When Imani left the group, Liv (Griffitts) was able to jump in, and she's been able to kind of secure that (left-back) position due to her work off the field and also on the field," Rodriguez said of the first-year pro from Eagle, Idaho. "I'm excited to see her transformation through this next phase."

Mozingo — who simply said "I love attacking" when asked to describe her game last week — is said to have one of the better shots on the team after first-overall draft pick Ally Sentnor, who already has two outside-the-box goals this season.

The Royals will need the two former Cougars to connect on both ends of the field to get their second win of the season as they travel to Racing Louisville FC Saturday at 3 p.m. MDT. The match will be broadcast on KMYU My Utah and NWSL+.

Related topics