Photo Credit: Russell Lansford-Imagn Images
The Utah Royals secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against the Orlando Pride on Saturday, with Canadian forward Cloé Lacasse playing a pivotal role by scoring a goal and providing an assist that tied the NWSL single-season assist record.
After trailing at halftime due to a late goal from Orlando, Utah returned to the pitch with renewed vigor. Just five minutes into the second half, Lacasse found the back of the net, converting a beautifully weighted cross from Kiana Palacios for her seventh goal of the season.
A crucial moment came twenty minutes later when Utah’s aggressive press paid off. Lacasse demonstrated exceptional footwork to evade her defender before delivering a pinpoint cross, allowing veteran forward Paige Cronin to score and elevate the Royals to a 2-1 lead.
With this assist, Lacasse has now recorded 10 assists this season, equaling the all-time NWSL single-season record previously set by Tobin Heath in 2016 and Croix Bethune in 2024. Heath achieved this mark in just 15 games, while Bethune took 17, and Lacasse has reached this milestone in 21 appearances. Notably, both Bethune and Pietra Tordin are also close behind with nine assists this season.
On the other side of the pitch, Pride forward Barbra Banda scored in the 44th minute, marking her return from the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). This goal was her 13th of the season, placing her second in the Golden Boot standings, behind only Ashley Sanchez, who has tallied 15 goals this season.
This crucial win not only ended a two-match losing streak for the Royals but also marked the first time Utah has swept the season series against Orlando. As they continue to build on their franchise-best season, the Royals displayed a resilient performance that bodes well for their playoff aspirations.
