Photo Gallery: Aurora vs Chicago City Dutch Lions
USL W League
Minnesota Aurora hosted Chicago City Dutch Lions on Thursday night, coming away with 3 more points after a 5-0 shutout. Here are our photos from the pitch.
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.
Photo Gallery: Aurora vs RKC Third Coast
USL W League
Minnesota Aurora hosted RKC Third Coast on Sunday afternoon. After a scoreless first half, Aurora broke through the RKC defense, finishing the game with a 3-0 victory. Here are our photos from the pitch.
Gallery: Aurora vs Rochester
USL W League
Minnesota Aurora opened their 2025 season with a 2-0 victory over Rochester FC in front of 4,500 fans at TCO Stadium on Thursday night. These are our photos from the pitch.
Gallery: Aurora vs Kansas City Current II Exhibition Match
USL W League
Minnesota Aurora FC hosted Kansas City Current II for a preseason exhibition match at TCO Stadium on Sunday, May 18th. Aurora came away with a 2-0 victory after goals by Weslund and Wimes. Here are our photos from the pitch!
Gallery: MN Aurora vs Indy Eleven (Preseason Friendly)
USL W League
Minnesota Aurora hosted USL-W rival Indy Eleven in a 0-0 draw at TCO Stadium on Sunday, May 11th, 2025. Here are our photos from the pitch.
USL W League continues to build in the Northland
The USL W League continues its expansion in the Northland, although a merger keeps the net number of teams the same as last year in the Heartland division of the Central Conference.
Chicago Dutch Lions struggled badly last season, accumulating a 3-0-9 record, which somehow was not the worst in the division. In the offseason, they merged their USL W and USL 2 operations with those of Chicago City SC. City, it should be noted, finished with a net positive goal difference and a third-place finish. The new joint venture is called Chicago City Dutch Lions FC.
The community-owned Minnesota Aurora FC continued their torrid run of form as a new club, with an unbeaten regular season before losing in the Conference Semifinals to Indy Eleven.
RKC Third Coast in Racine, WI, finished rock bottom of the Heartland division with a -49 goal difference.
River Light FC were the second-place qualifier from the Heartland division with an 8-1-3 record. They also lost in the Conference Semifinals.
Rochester FC finished 4-0-8 in the division.
Sioux Falls City FC join after a wildly successful, if short, tenure in the WPSL. Their joining USL W is only one part of a multifaceted plan.
Prospects
An ambitious City side will hope to present some challenge to the established order. In a friendly last year, they did tie with Aurora in a preseason friendly last year
Small Market, Grand Designs - Sioux Falls City looking to expand
Sioux Falls City's jump to USL-W is an expansion in every sense, as an energized Sporting Director Joe De May told us this evening.
I think when the ownership group started out they had grand designs at that time... Things have evolved and the women's sports landscape has really kind of taken off exponentially.
While WPSL PRO was "right in front of" the club and WPSL "has been a great platform for us, there's a lot of things from the USLW perspective that align a little bit better with what we try to do on our end." That included the ears of sponsors pricking up more at the prospect of D1 as opposed to D3.
The club sees viable expansion models from the men's side, most clearly with Minneapolis City. The top of their organizational pyramid would be a USL Super League professional team, with a professional reserve side in the WPSL PRO and a pre-professional team at the USL-W level.
The WPSL has a clause in its membership manual allowing for a two year "pause", which City are going to take advantage of, before re-opening that branch to "provide that level for those players who, are primarily focused more on their college development, and that's probably going to be the end of their competitive soccer careers."
The more teams, the more opportunities women have to play, but more clubs at more levels offers people a better chance of finding their level instead of warming the bench at a higher level.
How can you provide those players with those opportunities to play at a high level? But still be in a pro environment as well. So we think there's a place for both leagues.
Sioux Falls City is riding a wave but, like a well-coached team on the pitch, its shape remains.
I think it can be adaptable, flexible, but as long as you're keeping your core values and your main priorities at the core, then you're okay. You know, it's when you start bending your core values (that problems occur).
It is both a compressed and a fluid timeline, with a hopeful professional presence from South Dakota by 2027. With the Professional League Standards as they currently are written, division 1 women's leagues need 75% of their teams in TV markets of 750,000 - which Sioux Falls is not. Super League's got eight teams, but they have two teams that are underneath that 750,000 so they're right at the 75%.
We're cheering for more big cities to join because even if we were already in 2025 to do that, unless they had another big city join the league to offset another small market club like us coming on board, we couldn't do it.
De May is firm in his resolve that the club expands according to its needs rather than because of a league, with every league a possible destination for their sides. He is however, also insistent that they have an ongoing and healthy relationship with WPSL.
We just think that both leagues have something to offer and we're trying to navigate that the way through that to make it happen and At this point, we felt we needed to make the jump to USLW to do that with clearly stating to WPSL, hey, our intention is not to leave you.
In fact, De May foresees some professional reserve teams in the WPSL PRO.
I think that's a very sustainable path for the league. We envision ourselves taking part in that.
We will be watching. Stay tuned to our coverage.
Duong and Parten the MVPs in the Post Season awards
The USL W League and UPSL leagues have announced their postseason awards this week, led by Katie Duong, who was named Heartland Conference Player of the Year. It is the latest and last award in the glittering pre-professional stage of her career. Having been drafted in the fourth round by her hometown Portland Thorns in NWSL this year, she has been named to the inaugural roster of DC Power, the Washington club in the other Division 1 league, USL Super League. This last regular season, Duong scored 9 times in 10 starts.
In the UPSL, Berit Parten of NOSC Blast was named Midwest West Conference Most Valuable Player ahead of her freshman season at the University of Iowa, with a Golden Boot worthy 20 goals. She leads the line for the First Team selections with Aurora 2's Ava Westlund (also formerly of NOSC). The midfield is composed of players from four different clubs in Anna Tobias from Superior City, Ayah Makled from Aurora, Mehjan Przybilla from NOSC and Minnesota TwinStars' Ryane Cash. The defensive selections are GK Lauren McAlpine, Ruthie Gyasi and Julia Freed from NOSC, Aurora's Kiera Laney and Gwendolyn Lilly from Superior City. The Coach of the Year is NOSC's Josh Okoampa.
The second team sees St Croix Legacy's Alena Miller in goal, backed by a diverse defense: Sydney Kubes of Northern Tide, Lili Wade of Granite City, Bailey Dodds of Aurora and Caroline Lauinger of NOSC. The midfield selections are Luka Johnson of Aurora, Lili Linquist of Tide, Emilia McGiffert of Superior City and Nora Helvig of NOSC. The line is lead by Agatha Nimene of TwinStars and Mandy Elton of Aurora.
Stay tuned to this site for coverage of the inaugural USL Super League season and other women's professional football.
MN Aurora FC dances into third postseason appearance
Minnesota Aurora FC danced into their third consecutive postseason berth last week with a pair of road wins that clinched the Heartland Division and added to the franchise's records. Aurora will have to get through a rematch with Indy Eleven on Friday to advance to the Conference final on Sunday but, both players and coaches like their chances, especially if they hold to their one-match mentality.
Rewind: Path to Playoffs
June 27 (Milwaukee, Wis.): Bavarian United FC 0-7 MN Aurora FC
Aurora clinched their playoff spot with a shutout against Bavarian but they had a slow start, not finding the net until the 27th minute. Saige Wimes' goal, which came from a Bavarian turnover, opened the floodgates. A Katie Duong penalty kick and a strike from Mariah Nguyen to finish a box-to-box team goal (Kelis Barton to Wimes to Nguyen) sent Aurora into the break with a 3-0 lead.
Wimes scored a brace in the 52nd minute (4-0). Substitute Sophie French scored in the 56th (5-0) with a strike from distance after another turnover and again in the 72nd on a cornerkick served by Katie Duong (6-0). Giada Zhou added yet another banger in the 86th to end Aurora's night with a 7-0 win.
June 29 (Racine, Wis.): RKC Third Coast 0-14 MN Aurora FC
On Saturday, it took a heavily rotated Aurora only six minutes to find their first goal. Once again, Katie Duong sent a beautiful ball into the box, finding Tess Werts who chipped it over the shoulder of RKC goalkeeper Ella Kratochvil (1-0). Kratochvil made five saves before Giada Zhou doubled Aurora's lead in the 33rd minute following a poor clearance. French and Duong each added a goal before the break. The second half escalated more quickly.
Cat Rapp tallied four goals in 19 minutes (51'Klecezewski. “Two games, as we continue to prepare for the playoffs. We came focused on our attacking objectives and prepared ourselves for some great opponents coming up.”, 53', 62', 70'), book-ending three more goals from Wimes (57'), Lydia Ruppert (57'), and Kaylie Chambers (67') which put Aurora up 11-0 with twenty minutes still on the clock. But it didn't end there. Morgan Stone, a Chambers brace, and Sofia Bush, made it 14-0 on the night. If not for 'keeper Kratochvil the final tally could have been well above 20, but 14 marked a new franchise record goals-per-game for Aurora. Cat Rapp's haul (4 goals - a hat trick plus one) was also a franchise first.
Depth In Action: 21-0 Weekend
While players like Cat Rapp, a three-year Aurora vet, and Katie Duong, a 2024 signing (who has now scored in seven straight matches) continue to put on standout performances match after match, the 21-0 weekend showed the depth and creativity of the squad. The final weekend of the regular season saw veterans and newcomers climb the franchise leader boards:
https://twitter.com/MNAuroraFC/status/1808168760609546696
And, while the score may be excessive, it is also preparation. Assistant Coach Tom Klecezewski said, "We came [to Wisconsin] focused on our attacking objectives and prepared ourselves for some great opponents coming up.”
Central Conference Playoffs
Detroit City FC won their bid to host the Central Conference playoffs at Keyworth Stadium. On Friday, July 5, Aurora (1st seed) will play Indy Eleven (3rd seed) while host Detroit City (2nd) will play wild card River Light (4th). No, this is not a seeding error: USL-W's 2024 playoff structure states that inter division match-ups will be avoided in the first round whenever possible. Thus, the Heartland Division's 2nd place finisher, River Light, will not face 1st place MN Aurora, despite being assigned the 4th and 1st seeds, respectively.
After training on Wednesday, a portion of which was open to the media, coach Colette Montgomery was asked about having to travel for the first playoff game despite Aurora earning the first seed. She gave a well thought out response about the league's goal to expand the various marketplaces within the league and to give clubs with the means to host a chance to do so. Montgomery added that clubs like Aurora have a role to play in other markets, not just their own, and she hopes they can "maybe influence some young boys and girls in Detroit to play soccer and love the game."
A change of scenery brings new excitement - and challenges - to the game for players. Defender Lillie French told NLF, "It's also exciting to play out in a different stadium. I can't wait. I love playing at different places. Obviously I wish we were home but, it's nice to see something new. It's like a challenge." As for their opponent, the squad is not caught up on past results. "I'm excited to get outside of our division and play a team outside just to see what that competition is like and I know that Aurora has faced this team in the past, but you know, every year it's different so I'm excited to see that."
Indy Eleven isn't a completely new opponent for Aurora. The Valley Division side beat Aurora on their way to winning the championship trophy in 2023. While some standout players remain (most notably goalkeeper Nona Reason and forward Katie Soderstrom), Indy's 2024 division title was followed by the departure of head coach Paul Dolinsky.
Still, Aurora's staff has done their homework. "We've scouted them well. We know what they do well. We lock into what we want to do and we take our game to them," Montgomery said. "Hopefully we get that finished."
"Returning players have really brought that kind of unfinished business perspective to this. And I think that really drives the squad as a whole. We know that we're grateful for what's been done. And we're not content to leave it where it is. And so we're going to do our best to put out the best performance this weekend." - Colette Montgomery, Aurora Head Coach/Sporting Director
Unfinished Business & the Aurora Way
Lillie French, who joined Aurora's roster in June following a season with Heidelberg United FC (Melbourne, Aus.), has a unique perspective on the match-up. She watched her twin sister, Sophie, play in the match against Indy last season. She watched the 'unfinished business' mindset in action as she joined the squad for training under Montgomery in 2024. Now, after playing in a handful of games herself, Lillie is confident in the mixed team of veterans and newcomers who bring the intensity day after day:
"I think we have such a strong crew and all the girls on the team are so, so strong and so skillful that I think, going into playoffs, it's just another game for us. I mean there's high stakes, but we're just going into it like it's just another opponent. Like we got this, focusing on us - not really on the [opposing] team, just focusing on what we do and then trying to execute that. So we're really excited."
Aurora worked hard to match in 2024 the successes of their first two seasons. A whole new coaching staff and a nearly even mix of new players and returning/third-year players, had to work together to bring another undefeated season to fruition.
"Coach Lukic and her staff have built that tradition of the high press and being relentless and going after lots of goals and scoring," said Montgomery. "We all know that in sports really, the difference between being at a good level and being at the highest level comes down to mentality. I'm really proud of this group. The way that they really build that tenacity and resilience, the willingness to do the work off the ball and on the ball, play with freedom and creativity and ,as easy as it is to say that, it's very hard to create an environment where players have ownership over that. So disciplined defense can lead to creativity in the attack. It's hard to do that. But I believe that together we've created that environment and are really thriving."
On Friday, Aurora will have to find a way to carry that tenacity forward into the postseason. The club entered their third season with two division titles, one conference title, and a championship runners-up finish to their name. So far in 2024, they have added a third division title. Winning out this weekend to add another conference title would be a balm on the sting of 2023. Winning it all would remove chips from a few shoulders. But first, Friday...
Up Next
Conference semifinal: Minnesota Aurora FC v. Indy Eleven (match info courtesy of MNAFC):
USL-W Spotlight: Minnesota Aurora finishes home schedule with pair of massive wins
After throttling the Chicago Dutch Lions on the 16th of June, Minnesota Aurora capped off their home schedule last weekend with a Thursday-Saturday set of matches, capping off a three match homestand. The opening game of the swing saw Aurora take down Bavarian United 5–0 in a dominating performance. On Saturday afternoon, Aurora hosted their annual Pride Night match, defeating Chicago City SC 4–1 in another outstanding performance. The wins kept Aurora on top of the Heartland Division table exiting the weekend, but were not without their moments of adversity.
The Thursday night opener had a 6-2-0 (W-D-L) with 20 points Aurora squad face off with Bavarian United SC for the first of two times on the season. Bavarians entered the match at 4-1-3 with 2 consecutive losses coming into the match and only one substitute on the bench. Just 13 minutes into the match, Aurora scored their opening goal of what would become five on the night after a Katie Duong to Mariah Nguyen to Julia Sattler combination.
https://twitter.com/EqualTimeSoccer/status/1803946233062416390
Aurora took a 4-0 lead into the break after goals from Katie Duong, Saige Wimes, and Addy Weichers. The Katie Duong show continued with her snatching Aurora's fifth goal of the evening in the 77th minute on a wonderful curling shot off a free kick. Duong finish the night with a brace and two assists, outdoing her outstanding performance from the previous weekend against Chicago Dutch Lions.
"I've just been having so much fun playing here. It's been really fun to play with this team, I think just starting to find my rhythm and the rhythm with the team as well has been super fun these last couple games," Katie Duong said about her performances against Bavarians and Dutch Lions.
After one day of rest between, Aurora returned to the pitch on Saturday afternoon to face off with Chicago City SC in their second clash of the season. After drawing in Chicago earlier in the season, Aurora looked to rebound with a big win at home in Eagan.
Just two minutes into the match Katie Duong scored another goal on the weekend on yet another beautiful free kick goal.
https://twitter.com/EqualTimeSoccer/status/1804608618274140396
Mariah Nguyen put in the second goal of the first half to put Aurora up 2-0 heading into the break. In the second half Chicago scored their only goal of the evening on a penalty kick after Julia Sattler was called for a foul inside the box. Two minutes later in the 57' Mariah Nguyen earned herself a brace and put Aurora up 3-0, while Kelis Barton finished off the scoring for the hosts.
"These fans are amazing and hearing hearing all the younger girls scream number 51 is really really fun, especially when I'm taking throw in so now really grateful for the crowd," defender Kelis Barton said after defeating Chicago City. "Really grateful for our community. So good pride night turnout and yeah, despite the weather I'm glad we got a good dub and took care of business."
Minnesota Aurora (8-0-2 | W-L-D) heads to Wisconsin this week for a two game swing in the Badger State. Thursday night is a rematch between Aurora and Bavarian United SC. Bavarians (5-4-1) are already out of the playoff race, but will attempt to make the final weekend a difficult one for Aurora. Minnesota currently leads second place River Light by a single point but can clinch the Heartland Division with a win on Thursday night.
"We're taking it game by game. We've said that the whole season. We're into Bavarian on Thursday night and then RKC on the weekend. So one game at a time on half at a time," Aurora coach Colette Montgomery said. "We're not getting ahead of ourselves. I think this group has done really well in staying locked into the task at hand.
Photo Gallery: Aurora vs Bavarian United
USL W League
Minnesota Aurora FC defeated Bavarian United 5-0 on Thursday night at TCO Stadium. Here our our photos from the match.
USL-W Spotlight: MN Aurora vs Chicago Dutch Lions
In May, Minnesota Aurora opened their season with a 8-0 win over the Chicago Dutch Lions on the road (at Aurora University in Aurora, Illinois). On Sunday, June 16, Aurora welcomed the Dutch Lions to Eagan’s TCO Stadium, the Heartland Division leaders hosting the bottom of the table. With only a 1 point lead over CDL’s stadium mate, River Light, going into the weekend, Aurora needed a win to stay atop the Heartland Division table. While River Light put up 12 unanswered goals on 6th place RKC, Aurora tallied 6 over the 7th place Chicago Dutch to maintain the lead.
Two first half goals highlighted 45 minutes of attacking spurts. Mariah Nguyen tallied the first in the 16th minute on the rebound after a shot from Sophie French hit the crossbar. French found the net in the 23rd minute to take Aurora up 2-0. CDL goalkeeper Abigail O’Connor made a handful of saves to hold Aurora to two in the first half while Aurora’s back-line picked apart every Chicago offensive sequence early. The visitors’ best chance came from a free kick in the 36th minute. Olivia Anderson lined up the shot, set just outside Aurora’s 18 yard box, and was able to clear the defense’s wall but put a little too much spin on the ball to curl it under the crossbar, sending it high instead.
Nicole Norfolk, whose presence and work rate has been praised by teammates and coaches alike in her first season with the club, explained that the back line stayed engaged by reading the pitch for the midfield: “You’re communicating and helping the attack, giving them information on who’s open on the field, how to break down the other team. I think that helps keep the back line engaged and locked in on the game so that we can stay focused, so that when it’s the other team transitioning, then we're ready to go because we’re locked in and paying attention.”
Norfolk also had a front-row seat to a midfield performance that opened the floodgates for Aurora in the second half: “Our midfielders connected really well. I thought they were able to find each other’s feet a lot, and then get balls out wide. You know, I thought there was variation in our attack as well, obviously the set pieces we were successful on as well.”
Katie Duong and Servane Blouin entered at halftime (for French and Jelena Zibiljic respectively) and so began the clinic. Duong sent a screamer into goal in the 55th minute to make it 3-0. She had options but, “I’ve been trying to work on my long distance shot so I decided to hit it,” she said. Duong then notched an assist, sending a ball to Sofia Bush in the 57th minute for a cool finish, 4-0 -- Bush’s first goal contribution of the season.
After skimming the crossbar with a freekick attempt in the 60th minute, Duong got another chance at a dead ball in the 63rd when she served a corner kick to the head of an unmarked Addy Weichers, 5-0. In the 75th minute, Duong did it again, this time finding Morgan Stone, in the same space and unmarked just as Weichers had been. Stone’s header made it 6-0.
“I usually just try to deliver it into a good area and I feel like we have so many aerial assets on this team that make it super easy - someone always gets on the end of it,” Duong said, a composed and casual answer for a player who tallied a goal and three assists in a 45 minute shift.
“I think watching from the sideline, my biggest goal was just to bring some energy into the game,” she continued. “I mean, it’s a hot day out and I felt like we were able to do that. I think Servane [Blouin] did awesome getting her first minutes and she made two or three huge tackles out there.”
Aurora’s roster is deep, even with a handful of players still working back from injury or otherwise unavailable. Duong and Norfolk were both quick to praise teammates when talking about day’s victory and Duong seemed to deliberately use the phrase ‘game changers’ in place of ‘substitutes’ in one instance, a choice later clarified by head coach Colette Montgomery.
“We have the mentality that they’re not necessarily substitutes, they’re game changers,” Montgomery said when asked about squad rotation. “Again we’re asking for professional performances from the team, finding ways to break down teams’ defense from the final third,” she said. “Obviously [I’d] still like to be a little bit more clinical with some of those finishes but overall a great team performance [tonight].”
Six goals on the board was obviously an improvement after two consecutive matches that had Montgomery plotting finishing drills for the next day’s training. When NLF asked about this specifically, Montgomery said, “For the players, at the end I said, ‘I think you have all colluded to try to do this so we can keep working on scoring at training and give them [the fans] what they want.’ [But] at the end of the day it’s still hard to put goals on the board and so again, [it’s] a cast of characters that have all different individual talents and [they’re] bringing those different qualities to the field and that's great to have.”
Aurora will play two more games at home this week (vs Bavarian on Thursday and Chicago City on Saturday) before finishing the regular season with two matches in Wisconsin. Four games don’t feel like much in these condensed schedules but they make up one-third of the regular season. Minnesota Aurora will need their depth to collect all the points they can to stay ahead of River Light.
Photo Gallery: Rochester FC vs Minnesota Aurora FC
USL W League
Aurora defeated Rochester 3-0 on Thursday night on the road at RCTC Stadium. Here are our photos from the pitch.
Aurora Beat River Light to Rise Up the Table
When River Light FC played Minnesota Aurora FC in Aurora, IL, the game ended in a 1-1 draw. On Saturday, June 8, Minnesota Aurora FC got their turn to host River Light FC in Eagan, MN. Similar to the Illinois leg, River Light scored first and Aurora answered soon after. However, this match took a different turn. Instead of ending 1-1, the second half included three more goals. Who scored these five goals? Whether you were one of the 6,053 at TCO Stadium, watched on Fox 9+ or the Fox 9 website, or missed the match entirely, Northern Lights Football is here to summarize this action-packed match.
Women of Inspiration
This game was the Women of Inspiration match. A pre-game tweet stated, "Celebrating the women who lead with passion, purpose, and power." Local Social Network Strategist Nadine Babu has worked with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Gopher sports. She posted media of the video board that welcomed other Minnesota women's teams to the stadium: Minnesota Aurora 2, PWHL Minnesota, Menagerie Rugby Club, Twin Cities Amazons Rugby, Minnesota Roller Derby, and Team Trans Twin Cities Ice Hockey.
https://twitter.com/MNAuroraFC/status/1799613853967556886
"My dear, when people show you who they are, why don't you believe them?" or Starting XIs
Colette Montgomery lined up Aurora up in their typical 4-3-3 that can shift into a 4-2-3-1. For the second straight game, Alicia Donley played centerback next to Nicole Norfolk. Donley moved from forward to fullback at University of Dayton, and started the first four Aurora matches at right fullback. This switch for Donley allowed both Kelis Barton and Kacie Laurie to start at fullback. Another key benefit of Donley at centerback was Addy Weichers moving to the central midfield next to Morgan Stone. This marked only the second match for center midfield duo, but Weichers and Stone have played together in the midfield plenty on Aurora teams past.
Also for the second straight game, Cat Rapp received the start at center forward, who came in with 3 goals in 2024. Left wing Mariah Nguyen entered with four goals. Right wing Jill Bennett got her first start of 2024. At middle of it all was Katie Duong at center attacking midfielder.
River Light FC kept only Maya Nugent and Eliana Egeland in the starting lineup from last time. However, River Light used that midweek match against 6th-place RKC to rest most of their starting lineup. The River Light starting line up at TCO Stadium had nine returning starters from their weekend match against Bavarian United SC. Left fullback Sam Bodensteiner and center midfielder Gemma Gillespie were the only new starters Saturday night from a week ago.
"Do the best you can until you know better" or River Light Score First
Despite some dangerous Aurora chances close to the net, River Light's defense held Aurora at bay early. Then in the eleventh minute, River Light's Ella Burke sent a corner kick to the far post. Left wing Anya Gulbrandsen jumped high to head the ball into the back of the net. River Light led 1-0 in Minnesota early.
https://twitter.com/EqualTimeSoccer/status/1799596796517199925
"Then when you know better, do better" or Aurora's Answer
In the 32nd minute, Duong would send in a ball to Cat Rapp. While GK Blythe Braun saved the Cat Rapp attempt, the ball went wide to Morgan Stone who rocks the pebble into the back of the bag to tie the match 1-1. After all the Aurora acts of affection, Stone celebrates by miming setting down a golf ball and tee then driving one out of the box.
https://twitter.com/MNAuroraFC/status/1799602913087803628
"You don't have to think about doing the right thing. If you're for the right thing, then you do it without thinking" or Taylor Kane's Save
After the Aurora scored, River Light's Devin Lynch would take on several Aurora players and send in a dangerous ball. Taylor Kane was there contending for space with a player from each team.
https://twitter.com/EqualTimeSoccer/status/1799604459812634862
For much of the half, both teams struggled to pass through the compact midfield defensive blocks of the other. This half would end 1-1.
"River Light are a really well-organized team. They really want to play through those central spaces. And so that was a lot of what we wanted to do was shut down that middle space, make them go round us the long way and then win those balls in those outside spaces. So, you know, again, the game plan worked out really well. Different personnel coming in at halftime gave us a little of injection of energy, a little bit boost of confidence, and then let's go score some goals." — Colette Montgomery
"Make every effort to change things you do not like" or Substitutions
At the start of the second half, River Light subbed on midfielder Alexandra Tetteh for Gillespie and goalkeeper Bella Schopp for Braun. Aurora made three changes: midfielder Sofia Bush for Stone, right wing Saige Wimes for Bennett, and Yao Zhou for fullback Barton. Midfielder Zhou pushed Weichers back to centerback and Donley slid over to right fullback.
"I've never seen this one before," a goal like Duong's
Early in the second half, Cat Rapp square the ball to Katie Duong who booted the ball for a banger from 27 yards out.
https://twitter.com/EqualTimeSoccer/status/1800352491445596426
Duong commented on balancing her role to making teammates dangerous while being dangerous herself: "Especially playing the 10 a little bit more of an attacking role for Aurora, I've been trying to focus on being dangerous and varying the ways I'm attacking around goal. I think this front line and this midfield is so much fun to play with, and I have so much fun combining with these players."
"I am trying to find out who I am, who we are, what we’re capable of"
Later, Aurora would gain inroads into the box again. Despite Aurora's attack with deliberate daggers, River Light defend deftly by discharging all aggressions of Aurora's assailants.
https://twitter.com/EqualTimeSoccer/status/1799614634892419537
Saige Wimes' header or "You may trod me in the very dirt / But still, like dust, I'll rise."
At the 69th minute, both teams made additional substitutions. Aurora's Julia Sattler came on for fellow centerback Nicole Norfolk. River Light subbed in Sophia Skoubis for Egeland and Ellen Persson for Burke. Around the 76th minute, Aurora would earn a corner kick. Katie Duong's service to the far side looked to be going out for a River Light goal kick. Alicia Donley kept the ball in play and sent it back across the goal mouth. Saige Wimes lept up and headed the ball. The ball pinballed into the net off the goalkeeper's shoulder and the back of a defender. Aurora led 3-1.
https://twitter.com/EqualTimeSoccer/status/1799618420281127033
Immediate after the goal, Aurora would sub in Tess Werts for Nguyen and Rami Rapp for her triplet sister Cat. River Light put in Victoria Adams for fellow defender Sam Bodensteiner.
"You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them."
Rami would soon threaten on the right side. A River Light defender would trip Rami in the corner of the 18-yard box. It was unclear if the defender poked the ball away or not. As Equal Time Soccer pointed out: it should have been a penalty or a corner kick for Aurora. Instead the referees awarded River Light with a goal kick.
https://twitter.com/EqualTimeSoccer/status/1799618650376487157
"You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have."
In the 85th minute, River Light would make their last two substitutions (of seven allowed): Evyn Schokora for goal scorer Gulbrandsen and Shayna Da SIlva for Nugent. Those substitutions had an immediate affect. Less than three minutes later, River Light connected seven passes up the field. GK sub Bella Schopp sent a long goal kick up the middle. Alex Tetteh came back towards the ball and offloaded to Olivia Duray, who one-touched the ball wide right to centerback Rachel Kutella. Kutella passed up the line to Sophia Skoubis. Skoubis hit Kutella back on quick diagonal run. Kutella passed to a W I D E O P E N Evyn Schokora, scored.
Katie Duong would earn "Play of the Game" for her second half banger. However, at 1:42:15 of this Fox 9+ video, River Light can claim to the best team goal of the night. Two other River Light attackers were also near the net with Donely the only Aurora player back to help Taylor Kane.
When the final whistle blew, River Light scored first and last. However, this isn't pickup soccer. Last goal doesn't win. Aurora scored three goals and earn three points.
USL W League, Heartland Division Standings - "Does it come as a surprise?"
Aurora was in second place in the Heartland Division heading into this match; River Light was close behind in third. After Bavarian United SC beat Chicago City SC on Saturday, River Light would bounce back to Rochester FC on Monday.
Tuesday results featured two rivalry matches. Chicago City would lose again, this time at home to crosstown rival Chicago Dutch Lions FC. Bavarian beat their Milwaukee rival RKC Third Coast.
The two Thursday matches include four of the top five teams in the division. Aurora heads south on US Highway 52 to Rochester FC. River Light FC in fourth host Bavarian United in second place.
It's tight up at the top. How will this look after Thursday? Stay tuned to Northern Lights Football and find out.
