NPSL Round Up: Week 7-8
Wednesday June 25th
Joy Athletic Club 2-1 Minnesota Blizzard FC
An ill-tempered and scrappy game ends the playoff hopes of the visitors and solidifies Joy in third. Minneapolis's Dimitri Nair burst into the visitors' penalty area from the right. He passed the ball onto Eagan, MN's Phil Caputo, who slotted his 12th goal of a Golden Boot-caliber season into the opposite side netting with only 19 minutes played. However, Joy struggled all night to finish off Blizzard, and the visitors were level in the 41st minute when Ulsterman Jadon Morgan expertly volleyed a cross into the net at the far post, after a corner was only partially cleared.
On the hour mark, a give and go down the left released Hopkin's MN's Griffin Price, whose pass was side footed home by Buffalo, MN's Carver Tierney. Even despite a red card, for violent conduct, by the St Thomas Tommie Bennett Kouame (out of St. Louis Park, MN) in stoppage time, Blizzard were unable to rally again.
Saturday June 28th
Joy Athletic Club 1-4 Sioux Falls Thunder FC
Things looked rosy for Joy as Phil Caputo scored a free kick, 30 yards out and dead central. However, the visitors scored four unanswered to vault themselves into a playoff spot. Nick North seized on a pass through the Joy defense in the 40th minute. Four minutes later, Thunder had the lead, AJ Bowman curling it past the keeper into the bottom corner.
Luis Waeschle added a finish to an intricate sequence down the right and Nick North added a counter attack goal in the second half.
Minnesota Blizzard FC 0-2 Siouxland United FC
The Outlaws spent an hour scoreless but sealed a win with goals from Dariel Contreras Portorreal in the 62nd, and Sergio Mijangos in the 80th minute, with a solo run down the right and a blast into the side netting.
Iowa Demon Hawks 0-1 Duluth FC
JJ Oyebamiji caught his own rebound after a point blank stop to secure the full three points for Duluth.
Wednesday July 2nd
Duluth FC 3-2 Siouxland United FC
It took half an hour, but an interception in midfield set up João Rocha for the opener by the visiting Outlaws, curled beyond Schenk in the BlueGreen net. In the 65th minute, a handball in the box allowed Duluth FC an opportunity to equalize from the spot, and the penalty kick by Felipe Oliveira slid underneath the Siouxland keeper. In the 81st minute, Siouxland United failed to clear for a period of two minutes and the ball leaked out to Peter Pearson, who blasted home from the top of the box. A late third by JJ Oyebamiji put the game beyond the reach of the visitors, even though United got their second in stoppage time through Sergio Mijangos.
Saturday July 5th
Siouxland United FC 1-2 Iowa Demon Hawks
With the seedings settled, Siouxland looked to stay healthy ahead of their rematch with Thunder. In the end it was the Demon Hawks who snuck the win. The visitors opened the scoring through an own goal in the 16th minute. Kyohei Eguchi equalized in the 31st minute but a Iowa PK by Jeanderson Pereira in the 70th secured the victory.
Coming Up:
The NPSL North Playoffs.
We look at the match-ups here
NPSL North Playoff Preview
#1 Duluth FC are the top seed despite a new head coach in Rio de Janeiro's Thomas Pazo. The perennial contenders for the North are defending Midwest Region champions and Liam Pritchard continues to torment opposing defenses. Felipe Oliveira and JJ Oyebamiji are their leading goalscorers, with 4 and 3 respectively.
#2 This is only Siouxland United's second season of existence, and following a 6-0-6 debut season, the Outlaws have been a surprise to everyone but themselves, beginning the season with two straight road losses but being unbeaten before losing to Duluth FC yesterday. Leading the way has been Rio de Janeiro's João Rocha, who has five goals, tied for second best in the conference. In the technical area is Alex Trent, who coached Dakota Fusion to an unbeaten regular season, before losing in the inaugural North Conference Final to Duluth FC. The Kansan has attracted a number of his players from 2024 to follow him to Sioux City.
We've overcome a lot of adversity as a group and we are in a great place now as a team with a strong bond together. We're learning how to win in different ways and winning has become the expectation. Our aim has always been getting home playoff games for our fans and club as we keep growing as a club in our second year and first year making playoffs.
- Alex Trent, Head Coach of Siouxland United FC
#3 The chance to be Siouxland United's opponents in the North Conference playoffs turned out to be a scrap between two wildly inconsistent teams, the Iowa Demon Hawks from Des Moines and the Sioux Falls Thunder. A new rule making it necessary for the matchups to be decided "on geography and/or other economic criteria" ensures that the teams from the South of the conference will meet each other.
Sioux Falls Thunder have a 4-1-5 record, with Aran Hernandez-Vivar having scored four and a rotating cast of others having added one to the record.
#4 Facing the BlueGreens in the Twin Ports are Joy Athletic, led by the Golden Boot nominee Philip Caputo, from Eagan, MN via Porto Alegre in the south of Brasil. He is the latest product of the Joy of the People "free play" system to make a name for himself in the NPSL, following Emmanuel Iwe (currently playing in the German 3.Liga) and Zinedine Kroeten (who is playing for Milwaukee Torrent in the Central States Conference). Buffalo, MN's Carver Tierney has ably assisted Caputo, to the tune of 5 goals.
I'll update this piece once I receive the quotes from the other clubs.
Coming Up - Wednesday
Duluth FC v Joy AC
Duluth won one (rallying from 1-0 down to win 4-1) and drew one (which Joy should have won) in the regular season series.
Siouxland United FC v Sioux Falls Thunder FC
The two sides have split the regular season series with a win each, however the wins were not equal - a last kick win for Thunder having trailed in the 80th minute versus a 7-2 hammering by the Outlaws.
Saturday
NPSL North Conference Final
As for last year, it is only the winner of this match who can claim the Conference Champions trophy. Duluth FC won last year and made it to the National Semifinals.
WPSL North Lakes Conference Championship Review - Legacy prevail at the death
FC Milwaukee Torrent 2-2 St Croix Legacy (Legacy win 6-5 on penalty kicks) - Wednesday July 2nd - Uihlein Soccer Park, Milwaukee, WI
While it is not a road game for Torrent, the hosts are based at Uihlein Soccer Park in the north of Milwaukee rather than the more centrally located Hart Park. The 600-mile round trip for the visiting club is three times the longest road trip they had taken in divisional play.
Add to that, the Facility Director told the teams and WPSL that the lights needed to be off at 11:30pm and therefore the match skipped over the usual Extra Time (and any stoppage time) and straight from 90 mins to a penalty shootout.
There was an hour-long delay for lightning before the game even kicked off and the stormy silence was broken by a rough challenge on Leyla Kelbel in the Legacy box, resulting in a penalty kick in the 20th minute. Kelbel's kick was stopped by Johnson but the ball dropped invitingly for the Wisconsinite, who tapped home the rebound.
Five minutes later, Ashlyn Skinner-Barrett broke free and added a second Torrent goal but Legacy were not to be rolled over. Torrent goalie Kate Hopma smothered an initial shot by Wren Van de Walker from the Legacy left but the ball is smuggled home by Amara Smith.
In the 67th minute, Legacy drove down the right, the ball was dribbled across and Wren Van de Walker added a goal to her earlier assist.
It would be last goal in open play as both sides played out a scoreless 20 minutes and then the ground rules got involved.
In the seventh round of PKs, defender Emily Hinze out of Mendota Heights, MN sidefooted the ball past Kate Hopma and the visitors prevailed. It was 11:35pm Central Time.
Speaking to us after the final whistle, St Croix Soccer Club Executive Director Nathan Klonecki said
With the time change, and the lightning delay and the halftime delay and down 0-2, (coming) back that is how they have been all year. It is fun to see that effort and desire pays off!
Coming Up...
St Croix take their place at the Central Regional table for the first time. The hosting assignment is rotated across the Conferences and this year falls with the Midwest Conference, whose winners were Oklahoma City FC. That means a bumper diet of football in the state, first on July 12 and 13th in OKC and then at the National Championships at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK the following weekend.
WPSL Wrap Up: Week 6
Wednesday
MN Bliss FC 1-0 Minnesota Dutch Lions
Ella O'Keefe out of Plymouth, MN was the difference maker as she tapped home a corner at the far post after an initial shot was a kick of fresh air. The result places Bliss fourth, equal with a St Croix team that had played two fewer games. Minnesota Dutch Lions, on the other hand, continue their search for their first win.
Friday
Joy Athletic Club 0-4 St Croix Legacy
A dominant midfield performance by the Legacy sees the team from Stillwater area pick off Joy defense with two offside-trap breaking passes around the corner and two late tap ins, totaling two each for Lake Elmo, MN's Amara Smith and two for Shoreview, MN's Tatum Trettel.
Manitou FC 1-4 Mankato United SC
Mandy Elton opened the scoring in the 7th minute but hers would be the only goal for the home side. Local product Ella Huettl, Albertville, MN's Harlee Peltz, Scotswoman Hannah Duncan and St Peter, MN's Grace Dlouhy returned fire for the road team.
Sunday
Mankato United SC 0-2 St Croix Legacy
The visitors took a half-time lead after a Bella Meier free kick from midfield bounced and skipped its way through traffic and over Tea Opitz into the goal. In the 57th minute, Hastings, MN's Meier doubled the team's lead with a sumptuous side foot curler from the edge of the box. Mankato had moments of possession but no penetration into the Legacy box.
Minnesota Dutch Lions 2-0 Manitou FC
The Dutch Lions secured their first win of the season at their last attempt, with well struck goals by Natalia Coury (out of Arizona) and Serene Hamzeh (out of Iowa City, IA).
Coming Up:
The first ever North Lakes Conference Championship, which we look at here.
WPSL North Lakes Conference Championship Preview
FC Milwaukee Torrent v St Croix Legacy - Wednesday July 2nd - 8:30pm, Uihlein Soccer Park, Milwaukee, WI
This is a brand-new conference, and for the teams in the Land of the Lakes Division, it is also the first-ever Conference Final, as the Northern Conference had previously only had one division. Added to that, St Croix Legacy has played twice in the past week to even qualify for the Conference Championship. That scheduling quirk meant that the team from the Eastern side of the Twin Cities metro has played from behind in the standings for almost the entire season, with Salvo and the Thunder squad (who opted out of postseason play) setting the pace at the top and a competitive slate of team performance overall. Tatum Trettel of Shoreview, MN leads the way with 7 goals and Amara Smith from Lake Elmo, MN offering assists and 5 goals of her own.
Nathan Klonecki, Executive Director of St Croix Soccer Club spoke to us after they qualified:
We are excited to represent the North Lakes Conference at the WPSL playoffs next week.
In watching the FC Milwaukee Torrent team they are a strong team and we know it will be difficult but with this Legacy team we will definitely give all of our effort.The St Croix Legacy being in our 3rd year in WPSL we have had seen growth every year on and off the field. The roster is very young and using many of our St Croix SC youth players and then adding other local talent has been a fun season for everyone involved. The coaching staff (Marcos Rodriguez-Sporting Director/Head Coach, Phil Walczak- Asst Coach, and Kate Paetz- GK coach) has done a fabulous job!
In the Lake Michigan Division, it has been a three-way fight for the one spot between FC Milwaukee Torrent, Milwaukee-based Bavarian United and Green Bay Glory. The battle went down to the last week, when Torrent, Bavarians and Glory faced each other directly. It was Torrent that emerged from the gauntlet, shutting out the Glory's division leading offense on their way to an unbeaten regular season. They boast a longer history than Legacy, having joined the WPSL in 2018 and won their Conference in 2023.
Women's Head Coach and Club Owner, Andreas Davi spoke to us before the match:
We are happy that we won the division for four years in a row now and look forward to the conference final. The roster is very deep this year and it will be interesting to see where this journey goes.
WPSL Wrap Up: Week 5
Wednesday
Joy Athletic Club 0-3 Minnesota Thunder
Yet again, it took an hour before the visitors broke through. Still, a right-wing corner was skillfully flicked in at the near post by North Dakota State Bison Kendall Stadden. The second goal came only two minutes later as Minnesota Golden Gopher Paige Kalal tapped home after Concordia St. Paul's Sydney Potter parried a pile driver in the Joy goal. Kalal got a second five minutes later, blasting the ball past Potter from the top of the box after the Goats had repelled a spell of more intricate play.
Saturday
Minnesota Dutch Lions FC 1-1 Mankato United Soccer Club
Two stoppage time goals accounted for all the offense. Mankato United opened the scoring in the third minute of first half stoppage, through North Dakota State's Robyn Moody but their hard-fought win would be canceled out by a Dutch Lion equalizer in the third minute of second half stoppage, Idaho State Bengal Natalia Coury continuing a scarcely believable number of draws for the home team this season, this one being their fourth without a win.
Sunday
Minnesota Thunder 1-1 MN Bliss FC
Thankfully a short road trip for Bliss as they drove up to Eden Prairie for an indoor breakfast meeting with Thunder. The hosts explained to us why the game had been rescheduled:
Given the forecasted extreme heat conditions we decided to move the game indoors at Winter Park to provide a safer environment for players, staff and fans. The earlier KO is a result of field availability.
With all that said, the match finished 1-1, North Dakota State's Loretta Wacek putting Bliss ahead in the 5th minute and Minnesota Golden Gopher Grace Estby equalizing only 5 minutes later. Perhaps it was inevitable that after a couple of late-ish wins, Thunder would drop points somewhere along the line.
Salvo Soccer Club 3-0 Joy Athletic Club
Even in a league like WPSL where re-entry is unlimited, hydration breaks punctuated a night where the heat index went into the triple digits. An intricate goal in the first 10 minutes by South Dakota State Jackrabbit Katelyn Buelke was the only score going into half time, and it took until just short of the hour mark before Illinois State Redbird Maggie Dowling lifted a shot from the top of the area into the roof of the net to make it 2-0. Another blast into the top corner from the top of the box with the last kick of the game by Minnesota Golden Gopher Avery Petty completed the win and kept Salvo on top of the division.
Now they wait to see if St Croix can win both their games in hand and pip them to a playoff spot.
Manitou FC 2-5 St Croix Legacy
Two goals from Kenzie Jacobson (St. Thomas) and singles from Tatum Trettel (also a Tommie) , Brooke Nelson (South Dakota Coyotes) and Emma Johnson carried the Legacy to a win.
Upcoming:
Minnesota Thunder are done for the season, they may still win the Land of the Lakes Division but have opted out of the playoffs. Salvo have played their last regular season game and lead the clubs who have opted-in. However, St Croix have two games in hand on both. They cannot mathematically over take Thunder, but they would still beat Salvo to the playoff berth if they win both their remaining games. We are planning on being in Mankato on Sunday to see if that happens.
Wednesday
MN Bliss FC v Minnesota Dutch Lions
Friday
Joy Athletic Club v St Croix Legacy
Manitou FC v Mankato United SC
Sunday
Mankato United SC v St Croix Legacy
Minnesota Dutch Lions v Manitou FC
And then... the North Lakes Conference Final versus the top team in the Lake Michigan Division.
NPSL Round Up: Week 6
Tuesday
Joy Athletic Club 2-2 Duluth FC
Joy controlled the first half and got into a two-nil lead in the 32nd minute through a pair of goals by Carter Tierney, once from open play and once off a corner. However, they entered halftime level after a breakaway goal by the Londoner Jireh Oyebamji and a sloppy back pass capitalized upon by João Magalhaes with virtually the last kick of the half.
It was the division leaders who dominated the second half, including a penalty kick conceded and then tipped onto the post by Derek Stevens. A draw was probably a fair result.
Thursday
Siouxland United FC 7-2 Sioux Falls Thunder FC
Siouxland United entered the game with a chance to trim the gap to first to 1 point, whereas Thunder had the opportunity to overtake Joy in third. Both sides had good chances saved before the visitors took a lead in the 13th minute as a free kick 30 yards out was clipped early over the wall and into the penalty area for Aaron Hernandez-Vivar to slot home at the near post. The lead only lasted five minutes, João Rocha finished off a move from within the penalty area started by an Emilio Madrigal interception in midfield and fed to the Carioca by the Dominican Dariel Contrera, driving down the right. As the second half stoppage reached its conclusion of 2 minutes, Rocha was brought down on the right wing. The resultant free kick was sliced along the ground to Rocha, who blasted it into the side netting from the top of the penalty area.
The third goal for the Outlaws was the product of quick execution in the 54th minute, a rapidly taken throw from the left wing found Javier Munoz Cruz at the back post for a tap in. It was 4-1 ten minutes later, Kyohei Eguchi on a mazy run from 40 yards out on the left wing, all the way into the six yard box for a composed finish, beating six Thunder players in the process. Three minutes later, it was Rocha's hat trick, a simple finish off the rebound as Harumi Yunaiyama's shot cannoned into his path. The Outlaws had a shout for a penalty kick as Aimar Aramendia appeared to foul Christian Piewe Tientcheu. Piewe sprung the offside trap from a long ball curled into his path to make it 6-1. Nicolas Reinhard pulled one back 3 minutes later, but United made it 7 with the last kick of the game as Yunaiyama burst from midfield.
Saturday
Iowa Demon Hawks 3-0 Minnesota Blizzard FC
A hat trick by Robin Vandewalle gave the home team the win in this Summer time matchup of two teams who spend the winter in arena football. The first goal was a tap in after a neat pass around the corner in the 7th minute. The second goal came early in the second half and was all the Frenchman's creation and his special day was capped off in the 70th minute after he slid home easily from a left-wing cross.
Duluth FC 0-0 Sioux Falls Thunder FC (in Superior, WI)
A game with very few goal scoring chances leads to a highly unlikely, but firmly deserved, point for Thunder.
Standings
The tie-breakers are:
Head-to-head results, Goal difference in head-to-head matchups, Most wins in conference competition, Goal difference in conference competition, Fewest losses in conference competition.
Therefore, the Outlaws' 1-0 win over Duluth FC means they currently hold the tie-breaker atop the division. The two sides have still to meet in the Twin Ports. The next two teams will be seeded #3 and #4, but who plays whom will be defined by "geography and/or other economic factors", thus a Siouxland v Demon Hawks or Thunder match is much more likely than one for Duluth.
Coming Up
Wednesday
Joy Athletic Club v Minnesota Blizzard FC
Saturday
Joy Athletic Club v Sioux Falls Thunder FC
Minnesota Blizzard FC v Siouxland United FC
Wednesday July 2nd
Duluth FC v Siouxland United FC
Saturday July 5th
Siouxland United FC v Iowa Demon Hawks
WPSL Wrap Up: Week 4
Wednesday
Joy Athletic Club 2-0 Mankato United Soccer Club
Lakevillians Ashley Bennett and Brooke Quam were the key pieces in this home victory. Bennett opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with a neat shot that slid under the keeper Ella Lysne from a Quam pass. Quam doubled the lead in the 59th minute, from a Bennett assist to secure a home win for the Goats.
Minnesota Dutch Lions FC 0-2 Minnesota Thunder
Harvard commit and France U-17 international Lou Ruffien put Thunder ahead in the 25th minute and University of Northern Iowa Panther Abby OBrien (out of White Bear Lake, MN) secured the win in the 83rd minute.
Manitou FC 1-2 MN Bliss FC
St Paulite and North Dakota State Bison Loretta Wacek and Bemidji State Beaver Ella Wade, also out of the Twin Cities metro, tipped Bliss over the top against Manitou FC.
Friday
Manitou FC 0-2 Minnesota Thunder
Hastings, Minnesota's Paige Peltier got both goals for Thunder, as they climbed to second in the standings.
Saturday
St Croix Legacy 1-1 Minnesota Dutch Lions FC
A Legacy side short-handed due to Father's Day wrapped up their home slate with a hard-fought win against the Dutch Lions. The visitors have yet to win, but have drawn three times. The visitors opened the scoring in the 63rd minute through Adriana Brenengen's neat strike coming in off the right to blast it underneath Hadley Johnson in the Legacy net. However, the Winona High School kid's go ahead goal would not last as ten minutes later, Legacy attacked down their left, and Lake Elmo, MN's Amara Smith (who goes to Minnesota State -Mankato) slotted calmly past the goalie.
The last drama came in the 81st minute when a Legacy player nipped in ahead of a defender and the two collided. Free kick awarded, 30 yards out. The ball was driven in, and it went into the Dutch Lion net, but as the Legacy players headed back to the center circle for a goal, the Dutch Lions players protested and after an interlude the goal was chalked off for handball but no further action - such as a caution - was taken.
Sunday
Minnesota Thunder 2-0 Mankato United Soccer Club
Mankato United's Tea Opitz stood on her head on the Academy of Holy Angels Stardome field where she played as a kid, anchoring a defense which kept the prolific Thunder off the scoreboard for 70 minutes but in the end, Paige Peltier slotted past Opitz after a pass down the middle by Matigann Vixayvong split the defense open. The second goal was a scramble in the 83rd minute, finished off by the Minneapolis born Wisconsin Badger Kiya Gilliand from a corner kick by Paige Peltier.
MN Bliss FC 0-8 Salvo SC
There were 10 minutes on the clock when Salvo unlocked the Bliss defense, a run down the left culminated in a pass across the top of the box for Davy Mokelke to slide the ball home. An interception in midfield set up the second, again calmly slotted away by Becca Smith in the 17th minute. Bliss had a spell of possession around the 20th minute but Salvo had made it three by the 24th, through Mya Nugent. Mokelke added a fourth before half time.
Salvo salted away the victory with a fifth goal in the 53rd minute when Nugent swooped on the rebound after a spectacular close range save by Sarah Martin. It was 6-0 in the 72nd minute when an interchange down the right ended with the ball being bundled home for an own goal. The seventh goal in the 78th minute by Alma Beaton was a swallow dive from the edge of the area, dipping and swerving past Martin. The eighth went in through Ceilidh Whynott in the 85th minute.
Coming Up:
Wednesday
Joy Athletic Club v Minnesota Thunder
Saturday
Minnesota Dutch Lions FC v Mankato United Soccer Club
Sunday
Minnesota Thunder v MN Bliss FC
Manitou FC v St Croix Legacy
Salvo Soccer Club v Joy Athletic Club
Photo Gallery: Minnesota TwinStars v FC Minneapolis
Minnesota TwinStars FC 1-0 FC Minneapolis
Neither team could create many attacking opportunities, the TwinStars goal came after the FC Minneapolis goalkeeper made a mistake while dribbling the ball and Oscar Morales was able to gather the ball and score
NPSL Round Up: Week 5
Wednesday
Minnesota Blizzard 1-0 Joy Athletic Club
Shannonsider Cian Mcgoey ran all night, frequently ending offside but also popping up on the hour mark as an outlet pass for Carter Hermanson, a former Mpls City Futures product out of St Paul, MN. Mcgoey calmly dispatched the chance and Blizzard collectively defended from midfield back as the division's hottest striker, Phil Caputo with 9, put them under severe pressure. There were at least 3 calls for a penalty kick for Joy turned away, although Mcgoey also could have earned one at the other end.
Saturday
Joy Athletic Club 1-2 Siouxland United
Siouxland United took the lead after half an hour, João Rocha with a clean half volley strike in at the near post after he chested down a recycled ball from a 35 yard free kick whipped in from the left wing. In stoppage time at the end of the first half, the Outlaws high press produced a second, blasted into the far side netting by Daniel Contreras Portorreal. The Goats were only able to spoil the clean sheet with a soft penalty kick award, the ball hammered at a Siouxland defender from close range for a handball. Nonetheless, Phil Caputo stepped up and scored his tenth goal of the campaign.
Iowa Demon Hawks 0-3 Sioux Falls Thunder FC
In the 13th minute, a tough sequence saw the visitors break the deadlock. Max Matthies chipped the ball past the advancing Demon Hawks keeper Luan Teles, who clattered into him - leaving the Thunder player on the ground but the ball in the net. The goal was awarded, a penalty kick (or caution) was not. The hosts were, however, reduced to ten men in the 63rd minute when Matheus Barbosa da Silva received his second yellow card.
A mis-hit clearance in the 69th minute left Aran Hernández Vivar to slide the ball home for Thunder's second. Luke Waeschle added the icing to the visitor's cake in the last ten minutes, softly cushioning a header back across the keeper from a right wing cross.
Minnesota Blizzard FC 1-2 Duluth FC
The BlueGreens scored all three of the game's goals, opening the scoring from the wrong end in the 13th minute as a corner bounced fortuitously off a defender. It took them 15 more minutes to level the match, Liam Pritchard picked up the ball in midfield, beat three defenders and wrong footed the Blizzard keeper by reversing to put the ball in at the near post. The Tees-sider scored his second, and the game's winning goal, in the early stages of the second half with another near post effort, this time playing off the shoulder of the left back and blasting it into the roof of the net.
Coming Up:
Tuesday
Thursday
Siouxland United FC v Sioux Falls Thunder FC
Saturday
Iowa Demon Hawks v Minnesota Blizzard FC
Duluth FC v Sioux Falls Thunder FC (in Superior, WI)
Aurora de-claw Chicago City Dutch Lions
Minnesota Aurora FC 5-0 Chicago City Dutch Lions FC
Fresh from a win against a difficult Sioux Falls City side, Aurora hosted the newly minted Chicago City Dutch Lions FC, who were sent home with their tails between their legs.
“Summer” was in full flow at TCO Stadium, with the athletic trainer in a tent and supporters kitted out in rain gear. The first chance for the team in teal came after 8 minutes, when CCDL keeper Anna Jenkins saw the ball squirm out of her wet gloves and across the face of goal, but no one was able to capitalize. It would be another twenty minutes before Aurora’s Bayliss Flynn tallied her first save, but the home side would not find the net until the 42nd minute, and that Ava Bjorkman-Tracy finish was ruled offside.
4 minutes of first half stoppage time were scheduled, 4 minutes of stoppage time were needed for a go ahead goal.
FLYNN ➡️ HIRAI ➡️ WIMES@mnaurorafc.bsky.social 1-0
— Equal Time Soccer (@equaltimesoccer.bsky.social) 2025-06-13T00:58:19.363Z
The second half began with Natalie Tavana, Elizabeth Overberg, Ava Westlund and Austin Miller all entering for the hosts. 7 minutes later, Miller set up Tavana to make it 2-0.
Cat Rapp and Evelyn Calhoon joined the party for Aurora in the 63rd minute but it was Tavana's second in the 74th minute which triggered the most changes. Alyssa Gluting took over in net for CCDL.
Speaking to us after the match, Tavana was happy to share the credit:
I feel honestly amazing. I always love scoring goals, but it doesn't just come from me, it comes from the entire team and our buildup play and Austin being able to find me both for the goals in the right spot. It was an amazing night and I couldn't have done it without my teammates.
The fourth goal came in the 83rd minute, as Ava Westlund finished a high press down the center of the field to tap in a cross. Last but not least, the 90th minute saw Summer Diamond turn 3 defenders and float a shot over Gluting's glove. The Dutch Lions still have a way to go, but the merged side is still an improvement on its predecessors. Aurora just keep dancing on.
Tavana told us the Dutch Lions' defensive organization presented the biggest challenge.
They're hungry on the ball. So, I think we have to show a lot of grit throughout the game and wear them down, and the goals started to come right at the end of the first half and kept rolling in the second half. So I'm really proud of how we responded and adapted and stayed resilient throughout the entire match against a hard team.
She saw plays to work on, and games to be approached "one game at a time", as the oft-repeated phrase goes. That means the outlook is laser focused on Rochester FC.
Speaking to us after the victory, Aurora head coach Jen Larrick felt good:
I saw plenty of progress from our previous games so that's what I'm most excited about. We have so many people coming from around the country that we have been trying to get our game model and now the understanding and execution of the game model is at a spot that I'm really happy with.
There is a two game set against Sioux Falls City FC, Coach Larrick sees them as a "great side":
I'm really looking forward to some great football matches against them. They scout us, we scout them and we'll see how it goes.
In the end, the coach and the club were "relieved" that neither the wildfire smoke nor the thundery weather caused a postponement. They might have been the only elements that can stop Aurora right now.
Vlora FC v FC Milwaukee Torrent : Men's US Amateur Cup (Midwest) QF Review
Vlora FC (Burnsville, MN - MASL/UPSL) 3-5 FC Milwaukee Torrent (Wauwatosa, WI - NPSL)
Bob Pates Stadium at Burnsville High School, Burnsville, MN. Thursday at 7pm.
This didn't feel like an 8 goal game, but Vlora's window closed fast as their go-ahead goal in the 49th minute became a tie game in the 57th minute and then a man down for 20 minutes.
FC Milwaukee Torrent travelled to Burnsville having not conceded a point in league play and put their foot on the throttle and the ball in the net twice through Javier Steinwascher in the space of 3 minutes, as a right wing attack was finished off and then an errant pass in the area by a defender was picked off.
However, the hosts ralllied, Nacho Gonzalez finishing off a neat spell of Vlora possession to make it 2-1 in the 26th minute and Hurtado sliding in at the far post to finish off a move sparked when Easton Hoch beat his defender on the left. That left it at 2-2 in the 29th minute and that was the half time score.
With the stiff wind at their back, Vlora pressed on in the opening minutes of the second half and went ahead in the 49th minute when Miguel Leon scrambled in a ball served from the left wing. The lead would only last five minutes as a Vlora defender slid recklessly in, and a penalty kick was awarded. Javier Steinwascher took a monumental run up and then slid the kick under Austin Gunkel and relatively down the middle for his hat trick and another tie.
Another five minutes passed with Vlora on the attack but Torrent countered clinically and took the lead in the 62nd minute through Gabe Voung. When they look back on this game, the hosts will probably need to analyse a two minute spell where a shout for a Vlora penalty kick went unheeded and Torrent went straight up the other end and were cut down by Rodolfo Batisti for a red card denial of a goalscoring opportunity in the 71st minute.
From that point, while Vlora did not look undermanned, the visitors were more than happy to play on the counter and the game's final goal came in the 73rd minute, a calmly executed coup de grace by Voung.
FC Milwaukee Torrent move onto the Region II semifinals of the Amateur Cup, to face RWB Adria in Wisconsin.
Photo Gallery: Minnesota TwinStars v Granite City FC
Minnesota TwinStars FC 4-1 Granite City FC (UPSL Premier)
Granite City’s goal came off of a penalty after goalie Balakiyem Katanga ran into one of Granite City’s attackers in the box.
The TwinStars scored 4 goals after the Granite City goalie was pulled due to a possible concussion. No substitute goalkeeper was available, so an outfield player subbed in. Sebastian Bocanegra had a brace for the TwinStars, scoring the 1st and 3rd goal – the 3rd being a 40 yard shot placed in the top left corner.
WPSL Wrap Up: Week 3
Wednesday
Salvo SC 1-2 Minnesota Thunder
Thunder hold on to equal the season series with their perennial rivals. Minnesota Golden Gopher Grace Estby accounted for both goals for the visitors, 7 minutes apart from the 57th minute after a scoreless first half, connecting on balls dissecting the left of the Salvo defense. Salvo pushed further forward and secured their only goal of the game on a powerful header by Lauren Eckerle.
St Croix Legacy 2-1 MN Bliss FC
In the ninth minute, Loretta Wacek (North Dakota State Bison) was fouled in the area by Savannah Stockness and Grace Fogarty scored the penalty kick to put Bliss ahead. Tatum Trettel equalized in the 19th minute off a loose ball at the far post. CJ Fredkove scored the winner on the hour mark, blasting a free kick from just outside the penalty area into the side netting.
Saturday
Joy Athletic Club 0-1 Manitou FC
In a matchup of teams struggling for relevance this season, former Minnesota Aurora player Mandy Elton (of Cottage Grove, MN via St Catherines) made the difference in the 75th minute.
Sunday
Minnesota Thunder 5-2 St Croix Legacy
Legacy went ahead in the 11th minute, after a long ball down the middle was dispatched by Lake Elmo, MN's Amara Smith, who plays collegiate ball for MN State Mankato. The home side equalized in the 33rd minute after head tennis from a corner. The decisive blow was made by Blaine, MN's Kendall Stadden, a newly transferred North Dakota State Bison. It was still even at half time.
It took until the 58th minute before Thunder took their first lead of the match, Stadden's former team mate at Minnesota, Paige Kalal, with a free kick, 25 yards out on the left, blasted into the net. Stadden scored her second in the 72nd minute, from a cross down the left from Bella Naples. Legacy threatened to reel in their hosts, as Bella Meyer and Amara Smith setting up Kenzie Jacobson to make it 3-2 only three minutes later. The margin of victory was only inflated by late goals. Lou Ruffien (who goes to Harvard) finished off a Paige Peltier cross. One minute later, Paige Peltier turned scorer, off a Paige Kalal corner.
Mankato United 2-0 MN Bliss FC
A battle in the center of the park, Bliss had a strong claim for a penalty kick in the first half but neither team could finish a chance. In the 57th minute, a center back curls the ball in to Johnson for Mankato, her shot was blocked but Julia Fischer put the rebound in. The game was salted away in the 87th minute, Ella Huettl connected on a defensive miscue by Charlotte Li and put it through the keeper's legs. It was a night for the Mankato locals, as both Huettl and Fischer are from Mankato and playing for MN State Mankato.
Salvo SC 8-0 Minnesota Dutch Lions
The Minnesota Golden Gopher Davy Mokelke of Wayzata, MN has had a red hot start to the season and continued it, with the opening two in this rout of the curiously placed Dutch Lions (who had drawn both their previous ties this season). The third came via the St Thomas Tommie Sophia Barjesteh, from neighboring Woodbury, as she lifted a ball into the top corner from the top of the box. Dominating their right flank produced easy finishes for Ashley Thirk in the 35th minute and Avery Petty in the 38th. It was 5-0 at half time.
A close range blast into the roof of the net for Petty's second of the game in the 58th minute made it six and Sofia Englund scored the seventh on the counter in the 63rd minute. The literal last kick of the game was from Mya Nugent to notch up an eighth. Dutch Lions defense at times did not help the visitors, but Salvo were mostly lethal in their finishing and go back on top of the division.
Coming Up:
Wednesday
Joy Athletic Club v Mankato United Soccer Club
Minnesota Dutch Lions FC v Minnesota Thunder
Manitou FC v MN Bliss FC
Friday
Manitou FC v Minnesota Thunder
Saturday
St Croix Legacy v Minnesota Dutch Lions FC
Sunday
Minnesota Thunder v Mankato United Soccer Club
MN Bliss FC v Salvo SC
Men's US Amateur Cup (Midwest) Quarter-Finals Preview: Vlora FC v Milwaukee Torrent
Vlora FC (Burnsville, MN - MASL/UPSL) v FC Milwaukee Torrent (Wauwatosa, WI - NPSL)
Bob Pates Stadium at Burnsville High School, Burnsville, MN. Thursday at 7pm.
The Twin Citians won a coin toss to host the supposedly seeded Torrent, who enter at this point. Vlora FC has already played two matches in this year's tournament, beating MN Blizzard in regulation fashion and then United Serbian SC in a less orthodox match . They are 3-0-2 in Division 2 of the Minnesota Amateur Soccer League, but 5-1-3 in the UPSL Premier Midwest West Division. Last year, they lost to the Torrent in the regional semifinals. The key men are the Zürcher Easton Hoch, who has 6 goals, Bahian Rodolfo Batisti anchors the defense and has 4 and the Senegalese striker Ibrahima Ndaw has 3.
Milwaukee Torrent are 5-0-0 in the Central States Conference of the National Premier Soccer League, the #4 ranked team overall in the national league. Last year, they won the Bill Davey Cup for the Region II Amateur Cup and made it to the Fritz Marth Cup Final for the overall US Amateur Cup title, but lost 6-0 to NY Pancyprian Freedoms, one step shy of a berth in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Their leading goalscorers are the former pro Michigander Alejandro Steinwascher, Stuttgarter Max Ludwig and the New Zealander Jamie LeComte with 3 goals each.