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SANDY, Utah. (Friday, April 3, 2026) \u2013<\/strong> Utah Royals FC (2-1-2, 7 points, 7th NWSL) earned its first win at home in the 2026 season with a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Stars FC (1-0-4, 3 points, 14th NWSL) at America First Field on Friday night. The win signifies Utah\u2019s first win at home this season and first shutout of the 2026 campaign.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Utah Royals FC Head Coach\u00a0Jimmy Coenraets<\/strong> made one positional and three personnel changes to the starting XI from the Club\u2019s victory against Boston last Saturday. Coenraets introduced Danish international Janni Thomsen<\/a> and Kaleigh Riehl<\/a> into the back line, shifting over Tatumn Milazzo<\/a> from center back to her left back. Up top, Kiana Palacios<\/a> replaced Lara Pra\u0161nikar<\/a> to lead the attack.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Utah returned to America First Field chasing a second win after a 4 point road trip to the East Coast, snagging their first win for the club this season against Boston. After playing three games last week, the team was rested and ready to start the game feeling fresh.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The Royals opened the match with intensity, applying pressure early in the game looking for a goal opportunity. Attacker Cece Delzer<\/a> took shots on goal in the first and fourth minutes of the game, looking relentlessly for any opportunity to strike.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n In the 12th minute, opportunity struck for Chicago\u2019s Nadia Gomes, who headed the ball straight down the middle. Royals goalkeeper Mia Justus<\/a> shut down the attack, securing the ball before the effort could be converted into a point. Justus has been nominated twice this season for Save of this Week, her second after an incredible performance against Boston last Saturday.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The Royals kept the pressure on, continuing to work the ball forward and create opportunities to strike. In the 29th minute, Delzer found Dayana Pierre-Louis<\/a> in the box but her effort was barely deflected by the Chicago Keeper.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Despite the Royals taking more than 18 shots on goal in the first half, the effort didn\u2019t translate, and the score remained level going into halftime.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Heading into the second half, the Royals continued to apply pressure. Momentum shifted after an apparent foul on Delzer went uncalled, but a subsequent VAR review ruled that Chicago\u2019s Tessa Dellarose had committed a foul in the box.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n