Erika Tymrak scored her first goal of the season and Utah Royals FC earned their second win of the year — 1-0 over Houston Dash to kick off Week 8 in the NWSL. The win — in front of a crowd of 8,323 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah — came in the final […]

Erika Tymrak scored her first goal of the season and Utah Royals FC earned their second win of the year — 1-0 over Houston Dash to kick off Week 8 in the NWSL. The win — in front of a crowd of 8,323 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah — came in the final game of a four-game home stand for Utah.Utah Royals FC are now 2-1-5 (11 pts) and unbeaten in their last five (2-0-3 in that stretch). The loss for the Dash snapped a three-game unbeaten streak and dropped them to 1-4-4 (7 pts). Utah played the game without Kelley O’Hara, who has a right hamstring strain. O’Hara had been playing at forward the last few matches — and in her absence on Saturday, Tymrak started in her place on the front line. The start for Tymrak was her first of the season and she netted the game-winning goal in the 51st minute. Gunnhildur Jónsdóttir won the ball in her own half and ran down the right sideline, well into the offensive third. She then passed across the top of the penalty box, while Amy Rodriguez and Tymrak made runs to her left. Rodriguez turned, but didn’t play the ball, letting it go past her and to Tymrak, who hit a one-time shot with her right foot past Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell. [Empty Body] Utah Royals FC had a chance to take the lead in the first half after Amber Brooks was called for a foul on Rodriguez in the box. Utah midfielder Diana Matheson stepped up to take the penalty kick, but her shot was saved by Campbell. For Matheson, who missed all of the 2017 season with an ACL tear, it was her first PK attempt since the 2016 NWSL Championship with the Washington Spirit, which was saved by Sabrina D’Angelo to give the Western New York Flash the win. [Empty Body] Rodriguez also had a chance a few minutes earlier, but Campbell turned away her shot. [Empty Body] The Dash did not record a shot on goal in the game, according to Opta — the third time that’s happened this season. In their first meeting with Utah Royals FC, a 0-0 draw on March 30, they also did not record a shot on target. Utah outshot Houston 18-7 (5-0 in shots on goal) and controlled possession 63.7% to 36.3%. They also led in passing accuracy 80.5% to 62.1%, but the Dash earned more corner kicks (4-2). “It was a complete team effort. Not only did we win, but I feel like we dominated the match,” Tymrak told Dalen Cuff on Lifetime after the game. “I think each game we get better and better, and I hope from here we can go up. But I think it’s great soccer we played, and I think we can just build off of this.” [Empty Body] The Dash will next be in action on Wednesday night at home vs. Seattle Reign FC, who entered Week 8 in second-place in the NWSL. Utah Royals FC head to Portland to take on the Thorns on Friday night.