KSL BYU and college sports reporter
SANDY — Still searching for their first win in 2026, Utah Royals FC found a new energy in Wednesday's midweek match.That energy's name was Mina Tanaka.Cece Delzer found Tanaka with an 84th-minute equalizer, and the Utah Royals earned their first result of the 2026 season with a 1-1 draw with the Washington Spirit at Audi Field in Washington, D.
C.It's the first time since last September the Royals have salvaged a point after conceding the first goal — and just the second time in 29 matches since the club's return to Utah that the Royals rescued a point after trailing at halftime.Mia Justus made five saves to help preserve the draw for Utah ."I think getting a point at Audi Field, where you know it's always going to be a tough game," Delzer said of the draw. "I was thinking about that 3-3 draw last season, so it was definitely in the back of my brain."We needed to get a point on the road as this three-game week," she added. "I think it speaks volumes to the mentality of this group, that blue-collar work ethic that we just want to keep going until the final whistle."And the visitors almost snatched the win. But more on that in a moment. Mia Justus is a brick wall 💪 🧱 pic.twitter.com/3NZtVbhePB— National Women's Soccer League March 26, 2026 Rebeca Bernal opened the scoring early for Washington , finishing in front of goal after a ball launched into the box took a deflection and landed at the feet of the captain of the Mexico women's national team for the 1-0 advantage.Utah out-shot the Spirit 7-6 in the first half, but Washington held the visitors without a shot on target until Ana Tejada's strike in stoppage time. But Sandy MacIver made the save, and Bernal's goal was the difference through 45 minutes.Trinity Rodman nearly doubled the advantage in the 54th minute, but Justus came out of her area and stepped up to brush aside the $2 million U.S. international's attempt two minutes before making another save to keep the Royals within striking distance."Mia stepped up, and she kept us in the game," Utah head coach Jimmy Coenraets said of the backup goalkeeper making her third straight start for injured starter Mandy McGlynn. "As much as you praise players to score those goals, I think we have to praise Mia for really keeping us in the game until the very end."That helped bring new life into the Royals as Coenraets began to empty the bench. He brought in Japanese
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