Canadian Cloé Lacasse scores 1st hat trick in Royals' franchise history in win vs. Reign

Cloé Lacasse of Sudbury Ont., scored three first-half goals for the first hat trick in franchise history to help provide the Royals with a three-game winning streak at the expense of the visiting Seattle Reign, 3-0.

The 31-year-old Lacasse scored in the third and 20th minutes before her final tally in first-half extra time. The first tally came when she converted off a Utah corner kick and then she followed up her own shot, which had been blocked, for the second goal.

Claudia Zornoza assisted on the third goal for the Royals (7-14-3, 24 points) by sending the ball to Lacasse just inside the box.

Lacasse, who has the NWSL's only hat trick this year, had one goal in seven matches entering the day.

Goalkeeper Mandy Haught needed just one save for the shutout.

Seattle (5-14-5, 20 points) has lost five straight matches and has failed to produce a goal in any of those. The Reign was a player down after Angharad James-Turner's red card in the 16th minute.