Utah’s late penalty kick sends Bay FC to a 3-2 loss as its winless streak reaches five matches

Bay FC gave the second-place Utah Royals quite a battle Friday night before eventually succumbing 3-2 when Mina Tanaka scored on a penalty shot in the 79th minute in Sandy, Utah.

An action-packed first half saw four goals scored between the two clubs, including the first professional goal for Bay FC defender Heather Gilchrist.

After beginning the post-World Cup break with a three-match unbeaten streak, Bay (5-10-4, 19 points) has gone five consecutive matches without a victory over the last three weeks.

Friday’s result, though, didn’t discourage Bay coach Emma Coates, who saw plenty to like despite what the scoreboard at America First Field showed.

“Sometimes football can be a very love-hate relationship, and we can’t beat ourselves up on the outcome because actually, in the balance of play, we gave a really good account of ourselves,” said Coates. “I don’t want the players to beat themselves up too much because I do feel we’ve gone toe to toe and lost on such fine margins. There’s absolutely positives we can take.”

Utah’s Miyabi Moriya, Narumi Miura and Tanaka made NWSL history as three Japanese players scored in the same match for the first time in the league’s 13-year existence.

The teams wasted little time finding the net as Bay FC jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute when former Live Oak High and Cal star Karlie Lema’s pressure led to her fourth goal of the season. Utah attempted to cycle play through goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn, whose attempt to clear the ball was blocked by a pressing Lema, whose right-foot shot from the 6-yard box found the net.

Utah (11-6-3, 36 points) returned the favor a minute later as defender Moriya corralled a tough-luck bounce for Bay FC and slotted a shot attempt into the back of the net from close range.

The hosts pulled ahead near the midway point of the first half after a quick restart got the Royals moving downfield quickly. Utah forward Cloe Lacasse fed Miura, who scored on a long-distance shot from outside the box.

The first half chaos continued seven minutes later. A set piece opportunity served in by midfielder Kennedy Fuller was nearly headed through by Claire Hutton in traffic but was cleared away by Utah’s backline. Fuller again served into the box on the resulting corner kick, finding midfielder Hannah Bebar, who fed Gilchrist for a header inside the back post.

On the winning score, Bay FC goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz initially denied the attempt by Tanaka, but the referee went to the monitor for a review. The kick was retaken after VAR showed Silkowitz had come off her line early. On the second attempt, Tanaka put it into the back of the net to give Utah the lead for good.

A week after Gilchrist’s NWSL debut, Bay FC celebrated two more during the second half. Defender Jenna Nighswonger entered for Gilchrist after the hour mark, marking her return to the NWSL for the first time since November 2024. Forward Agostina Holzheier entered the contest for Lema with less than 10 minutes to go as Bay FC looked to equalize.

Bay FC returns home next week to host the Houston Dash at PayPal Park on Sunday, Aug. 23.