Sandy • It’s one start and one goal for Erika Tymrak, and two home wins now for the Utah Royals FC after beating the Houston Dash 1-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday afternoon in NWSL action.
“It feels amazing,” said Tymrak, who made four appearances this season as a substitute before Saturday. “It’s been tough being a sub this season. But I came on and I just wanted to help the team out, and it felt great getting a goal, but I really think that the team played awesome.”
Tymrak scored in the 52nd minute, having earned the start in place of Kelley O’Hara, who was sidelined by a hamstring injury. But after the Royals’ first matchup with Houston, a scoreless tie earlier this season, Royals coach Laura Harvey knew Tymrak could thrive against the Dash.
“That’s what’s been our biggest challenge, our biggest learning curve, is turning those one points into three,” Harvey said of a team that has five ties already this season. “And today was a good example of that. This three, four weeks ago would have probably been a draw.”
Gunnhildur Jonsdottir set up Tymrak for the goal by gaining possession on the right side of the field, then sending pass to Amy Rodriguez in the center of the field. Rodriguez then moved it over to the left side, where Tymrak had run into open space for the goal in the 52nd minute.
“What Amy Rodriguez did for the goal is world-class,” Harvey said. “Not many center forwards would not shoot there.”
Tymrak nearly scored in the 17th minute on nearly the exact same play, but Houston’s Janine van Wyk slightly deflected a pass and by the time Tymrak had settled the ball to shoot, Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell had recovered in time to force Tymrak’s shot to go wide of the post.
The Royals had seven shots on goal in the first half but were unable to score — including off a penalty kick that Campbell dove to save from Diana Matheson’s shot.
“Especially in that first half they were in that lower block, big defense where it was hard to break through,” Rodriguez said. “But as the game carried on they got tired and there were a lot more pockets, a lot more holes.”
Utah’s defense limited Houston to one shot in the first half, which Dash midfielder Kyah Simon sent flying over the crossbar. Houston had six shots in the second half, but none were on goal.