SANDY — Taylor Lytle was excited to pack up her things and move to the opposite coast and help build a foundation for a professional women’s soccer team.

But this was 2013 for the current Utah Royals FC midfielder, and the call she received five years ago was to go to Sky Blue FC in New Jersey.

Still, without a moment’s hesitation, the Las Cruces, New Mexico native and Texas Tech alum reported to camp after going undrafted in the league’s inaugural college draft. It was a decision she never regrets.

“I was really excited because they had the base, the foundation, and I really enjoyed my time there,” Lytle said. “It was five years, and everyone was so close there.”

Now 29 years old and in her sixth season as a pro soccer player, Lytle will make the return to Yurcak Field in Piscataway, New Jersey, when the Utah Royals play their first-ever match against Sky Blue on Saturday (5 p.m. MT, KSL.com / KSL TV app)

“I loved playing there, playing at Yurcak, and to go back is definitely a weird feeling,” Lytle told KSL before boarding a plane for the east coast. “(Up to the trade) It’s the only team I’ve played with in the league.

“I’m excited to see some old teammates, some old friends, and hopefully get a win.”

Lytle made 82 appearances for Sky Blue, including a substitute appearance during her rookie season in the New Jersey club’s NWSL semifinal against Western New York. She scored five goals on the wing that also featured former BYU standout Lindsi Cutshall in defense.

But when the expansion Utah Royals traded several rights to players inherited from the now-defunct FC Kansas City in exchange for Lytle and utility winger Kelley O’Hara, the 5-foot, 2-inch Texas Tech alum was thrilled to move back west.

Relates Story

Utah Royals add pair from Sky Blue FC

Kelley O'Hara and Taylor Lytle will join the expansion Utah Royals FC in a trade with Sky Blue FC, the clubs announced.

Lytle grew up in the southwest and still spends the offseason in New Mexico and Arizona. Salt Lake City, then, was just a natural extension of her home environs.

“I enjoyed my time on the east coast, but it was time for a new challenge,” Lytle said. “It was exciting to be with a new organization, just starting up.”

The Royals (2-2-5) are 0-1-3 on the road, but Sky Blue (0-7-1) has yet to record its first win of the season — including four losses at home.

A Utah squad that will be without U.S. internationals Becky Sauerbrunn, Amy Rodriguez and goalkeeper Abby Smith will also be facing a New Jersey side missing U.S. standout Carli Lloyd and Savannah McCaskill ahead of next week’s FIFA international break.

Still, Utah coach Laura Harvey won’t take lightly a team hungry to give new manager Denise Reddy her first win, saying Sky Blue played its best soccer of the year in last week’s 1-0 loss to the Seattle Reign.

“Going in there is going to be really tough,” Harvey said. “I’ve been in Denise’s position before, where things aren’t going your ways, but the tide will change. We just need to make sure it’s not this weekend against us.”

Lytle expects a full effort from her side, even without the trio of U.S. internationals and just before six other internationals report to training camp with their own teams.

“We definitely want to go into the FIFA break on a high note,” Lytle said. “Getting a win, especially in New Jersey, would be good for us.”

New keeper rotation

Saturday's match will be the season debut of Utah goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart. The former FC Kansas City standout has been recovering from an ankle injury, and Smith's impressive start to the Royals' 2018 campaign has given her less reason to rush her return to fitness.

But when Utah kicks off in New Jersey, Barnhart will be between the pipes.

Utah also signed goalkeeper EJ Proctor to a national team replacement contract, announced late Thursday, to fill in as the club's reserve keeper. Proctor, a former college standout at Duke, was selected by Utah in the fourth round of the 2018 NWSL college draft and has been with the club as a practice-squad player since preseason training camp.

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