Photos: Aurora vs Utah United (USL-W Semifinal)
Minnesota Aurora FC
Minnesota Aurora hosted Utah United in the USL-W semifinals on Saturday evening, finishing their 2025 playoff campaign 0-1 after conceding a late first-half stoppage time goal. Here are our photos from the pitch.
Photo Gallery: Aurora vs Chicago City Dutch Lions
Minnesota Aurora FC
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
Minnesota Aurora FC
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
Minnesota Aurora FC
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.
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):
Photo Gallery: Aurora vs Bavarian United
Minnesota Aurora FC
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.
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.
USL-W Spotlight + Gallery: Aurora bests Rochester 2-1
On Thursday, June 6, Minnesota Aurora FC hosted Rochester FC in the first leg of the Minnesota Derby. The Rochester Loons kept the match close after conceding early, with their defense drawing the praise of Aurora coach and players, but the hosts found the breakthrough in spectacular fashion to win 2-1.
Despite scoring the opening goal in the third minute, Cat Rapp found a lot to be improved upon, for herself and for the team:
“I’m glad that we got the win but I think we could have done a lot more today We had a game plan. I think at some points we were able to execute it and others we weren’t able to do as we wanted,” she said. “But I’m glad we got the win. It shows that even when we’re not playing our best, we can still get results.”
“We wanted to start the game right but, you know, the game lasts for 90 minutes,” said head coach Colette Montgomery. “Sometimes scoring in the first couple of minutes is the worst thing you can do. You know, Rochester again shut things down. They’ve got – obviously – some really good individuals and you know, they’ve all had a really good game, some big saves as well.”
Rochester goalkeeper Emma Knack was key to keeping Aurora to just two goals on the night. At the other end, midfielder Aida Kardovic put Rochester on the board, scoring the equalizer in the 38th minute. The Creighton grad now has 5 goals this year for the Loons.
“They were just playing hard, obviously. We expect that from every single team. In particular that number seven [Kardovic], she was very good for them,” Rapp said. “I think she scored their goal off the free kick and she was very good, very technical.”
📹 EQUAL TIME EXCLUSIVE
Second look at the Putri Sazali to Aida Kardovic goal for @RochesterClub, including our goal line camera. https://t.co/9xcEI3nBKg pic.twitter.com/NOvfg1h7HY
— Equal Time Soccer (@EqualTimeSoccer) June 7, 2024
“We definitely have to give credit to their number seven,” echoed Jelena Zbiljic. “She was a baller. She was very good and hard to defend.”
Zbiljic scored the winner for Aurora, finding the far upper corner of the goal with a strike that coach Montgomery called a crot: “We call that a crot. Was it a cross or a shot so we call it a crot. At the end of the day the ball ends up in the back of the net so we’re happy with that.”
The ball found the back of the net and the play found the No. 6 spot on SportsCenter’s Top 10 that night.
We really want you to see this, @SportsCenter https://t.co/hotSQjIo5f
— Minnesota Aurora FC (@MNAuroraFC) June 7, 2024
“I like being very helpful and crossing, or just taking people on and going one-v-one,” Zbiljic explained. “So it’s kind of what I tried to do and then I kind of saw the keeper a little off her line and I just love to test the keeper and try to get a goal in and that’s exactly what happened.”
Aurora will go on the road this coming Thursday, June 13, to face Knack and Kardovic on their own turf. But first, Aurora (2nd) will host River Light FC (3rd) on Saturday night.
After coming out of the Rochester match feeling that her side was not as clinical as they’d like to be, Montgomery said, “The players know the standards and the expectation. And so we’re going to close the door on this one very quickly and move on to the Lights on the weekend.”
Photo Gallery: Minnesota Aurora FC vs RKC Third Coast
Minnesota Aurora FC
Minnesota Aurora held their home opener against RKC Third Coast in front of 5,092 fans. The home side came out victorious as they scored seven and kept a clean sheet. Mariah Nguyen had an outstanding night and provided a hat-trick while also setting up two other goals. Have a look back at all the action with our photo gallery.
USL-W Match Preview: MN Aurora FC host RKC Third Coast
One week into the Heartland Division's 2024 season, MN Aurora returns to TCO Stadium on Thursday night after adding two away results to a regular season unbeaten record that dates back to their inaugural match in 2022. With plenty of new faces - including the entire coaching staff - joining stalwart returnees, Aurora has shown a continuation of the "Aurora way" on the road, but the first week of Heartland results highlights the increasing parity across the division and the W-League standard as a whole.
Aurora [at] Aurora [University in] Aurora [Illinois]
Aurora opened the season in Aurora, Ill., playing two matches at Aurora University. The opener was what everyone has come to expect from Aurora: Goals, early and often. The second match proved that there is room for growth and competition in the regular season.
On Thursday, May 23, Aurora outplayed the Chicago Dutch Lions 8-0. Given that the Dutch Lions lost to River Light FC by the same score on May 19, Aurora's eight goals may have taught us more about the Lions than Aurora. However, the variety of play-makers, goals, and goalscorers, kept the match intriguing.
The goals:
- 6' Sophie French, assisted by fellow returnee Jill Zbiljic from the corner
- 25' Giada Zhou makes her mark in her debut
- 50' French bags a brace
- 53' Tess Werts, who entered for Zbiljic after the break, scores just 8 minutes into her debut
- 57' Mariah Nguyen, back for year three, assisted by Werts
- 59' Werts notches the brace from distance (Yes, that's two goals and one assist less than 15 minutes into her shift)
- 75' Lydia Ruppert, another third-year returnee, assisted by newcomer Taylor Shell
- 77' Ruppert tallies Aurora's third brace and final goal on the night
Two returnees and one debutante accounted for six of the eight goals; the ever-improving Nguyen and confident newcomer Zhou added the other two.
On Saturday Aurora returned to Aurora University, this time to face the aforementioned River Light FC. After going into halftime scoreless, Aurora was the first to concede. River Light took the lead with a goal from Mya Nugent in the 53rd minute. Minutes later, Aurora leveled with a Sophie French header (off of a freekick this time) in the 55th. After that quick succession of goals, the two sides continued to battle it out in midfield without finding the goal. The 1-1 tie was Aurora's first since the club's inaugural home opener in 2022.
“River Light brought a great game against us, and we’re excited to have an opponent like this in the division," said first-year head coach Colette Montgomery. "Our players responded well to the game plan we put out there and the strategy we wanted to put in place today."
Both clubs made the USL-W Power Rankings for the week, with Aurora coming in at 10th and River Light 11th. Judging by the standings, River Light's performance on Saturday may have been a harbinger of a tough[er] season. Aurora has only been outscored by River Light and Chicago City SC but has a game in hand on both clubs. Aurora will get their first look at Chicago City this coming Sunday (at Chicago's Loyola University), but will first face RKC Third Coast.
Welcoming RKC Third Coast
RKC Third Coast opened their season at home on May 19, losing to Chicago City 4-2. After a week's rest, they traveled to Rochester FC, where they lost 3-2. Brielle Rochester scored both goals in the opening match while Haley Christianson tallied both goals against Rochester. RKC has returned 13 players from their inaugural 2023 roster but they do not have as many experienced players as Aurora.
In 2023, RKC's inaugural season, Aurora outscored them 18-1 across two head-to-head matches. Aurora's 2024 roster of 29 players features 12 returning players, a number of whom have already moved up a few rungs on the franchise's all-time goals and all-time points ladders.
Preseason thoughts from the coaches
"We've got exceptional leaders in the group and I'm very thankful for the returning players," Coach Montgomery said following at an open training session in preseason. "They know the Aurora Way and I'm learning that and bringing my pieces of that and seeing how we can collaborate." She reiterated later, "I'm very thankful for the veteran players that are here. This is a collaborative effort."
Goalkeeper coach Lucca Shimanuki is genuinely thrilled about the new experience, telling NLF after that same training session, "It's been amazing, to be honest, just working with Colette [Montgomery]. She's a fantastic coach, I know her from the past, I learned a lot from her, and just to be here in this new environment, which - it's where every soccer coach wants to be, at the highest level possible, and it can't get much better than this."
Returning goalkeeper Taylor Kane played every minute of the two matches on the road. Every indication is that she will get the nod again on Thursday at home. Shimanuki was impressed with the level she brought to training before the season started: "[Aurora] has always had solid goalkeepers and our defense was always something that we're proud of and we want to maintain that for this year. We have Taylor, a returner, and she's just been getting better and better every day. Every season, she's been fantastic."
Thursday evening will be many fans' first opportunity to see in-person the collaboration between the first-year staff, new players, and veteran players. It is also the first match of the season to be broadcast on TV, returning to Fox 9+ (TV) and Fox9.com. Northern Lights Football will also be there for live coverage and to recap all aspects of the event so follow along.
USL-W | MN Aurora Enters Playoffs with A Fresh Slate, Despite Opening with A Rematch
The W League's second season has come to a close but playoffs are coming, fast and furious. Kettering University and its Atwood Stadium, in Flint, Michigan, will host the Central Conference semifinals on Thursday, July 6. The Heartland Division's wild cards will play first (at 2pm CST), in a meeting of familiar foes: Minnesota Aurora FC and Chicago City FC. Then (at 6 pm CST) Flint City AFC of the Great Lakes Division will face Indy Eleven of the Valley Division. The winners will face off in a quarterfinal match on Saturday, again at Atwood Stadium.
MN Aurora head coach Nicole Lukic and some players spoke with the media following the team's last practice before taking off* for Flint. Tuesday's open training followed a rare two-day break, a necessity ahead of what will hopefully be a continuing compact playoff schedule. "We've been mentally kind of grinded for fifty days or so with just, you know, a day off here and there," Lukic told NLF. "So I think the two days did everybody pretty well for their bodies and just mental energy. We had a good session today and we're excited to get over to Flint."
Minnesota Aurora bolstered their roster ahead of the trip, adding training player Ava Bjorkman Tracy to the squad. The UNC-Ashville player will be a depth option as Hannah Adler is on beach soccer national team duty this weekend and Kennedy Faulknor remains out with injury.
Thursday's opponent is the same squad Aurora faced in their home finale this past Saturday. Lineup tweaks throughout the match against Chicago City SC resulted in a 7-0 win, with six of those goals scored in the second half, but Lukic said not to look at that match as a preview of Thursday's game plan: "We were guessing that it would be back to back Chicago City games so we kept that in mind when we created our lineup on July 1, because we didn't want to do the exact same thing twice. So I would expect it [Thursday's lineup] to be a little different than it was on Saturday."
Midfielder Vienna Behnke, a Wisconsin native with pro experience in Iceland, says playoffs will be a fresh start. "It's just kind of a mindset shift of a whole new season starting, so the regular season means nothing. Now, even though we did really well and we do have a lot of good results [12-0, 60 goals], the slate is clean and we have to start over and prove ourselves right away."
After that near-fifty day grind, two days off felt strange to Behnke, in large part due to the team chemistry built through an intensive, compact season. For a pro (who will be available in the upcoming transfer window, by the way) to speak so highly of the experience with a squad - and league - largely composed of college players getting ready for the fall season and considering pro careers, speaks volumes of Aurora's program.
"I'm looking to play overseas again in this transfer window - hopefully I'll sign contracts now. So it's been a good preparation for me, as well. Just not going back to college, but to go back to another team," said Behnke. "[It's] just a really high level all around, even as we split up into our functional groups and stuff. Even that's a really high level. So it's been - I think everybody's gotten to improve and no matter where you're going afterward, I think it's been really good."
While Aurora has received a lot of attention for both the quality of their goals (with two SportsCenter Top 10 appearances in 2023) and the quantity (Behnke frequently wakes up to texts from teammates overseas asking if the other team got a touch on the ball), their coach remains balanced, still on those "neutral thoughts" from preseason:
"We've played them really well on Saturday, obviously, but we can't take any opponent for granted at this point. Everybody's earned their playoff spot. They worked, Chicago worked super hard to get here so I'm sure we're going to get their best from them."
Minnesota Aurora FC vs. Chicago City SC kicks off at 2 pm CST on Thursday, July 6. Aurora's broadcasting partner Fox9+ will carry the game.
* Notably, we mean "taking off" literally in this case. This is the first time the club has travelled by air for a match. Unfortunately, NLF was told that bus driver/cheerleader Stephen Barry of Jefferson Lines is not able to make the trip.
MN Aurora Closes Out 2023 with Shutout Against Chicago City SC
Minnesota Aurora FC closed out the 2023 regular season on Saturday night with a 7-0 shutout against second place Chicago City SC. With the win, Aurora secured a few big accomplishments: One of only two teams in the W League to go a perfect 12-0-0 (Tampa Bay United of the Southeast Division); the only team to score 60 goals on the season; the highest goal differential (56); and set a new W League attendance record.
Eagan's TCO Stadium was packed with 6,987 fans for the highly anticipated matchup between the Heartland Division's top two teams. The last matchup with Chicago City SC took place on a rainy day in Chicago and ended with a 3-1 win for Aurora. All four of those goals were made in the first half. "Chicago City played a good match and forced us to be better," head coach Nicole Lukic said after that match.
Saturday's meeting started off a bit differently. The fans had to wait over a half hour to sing for a goal. After a lot of time spent in the middle third, with both sides focused on dispossessing the other and cutting off breakaways, Minnesota eventually earned a corner kick in the 37th minute. Addy Weichers, as usual, sent in a picture-perfect ball, finding the head of Morgan Stone whose flick-on caught City goalkeeper, Lauren Keiser, off guard. The corner kick setup looked a little different from those in the previous 11 matches, in which half of the squad typically camped out in the box awaiting service, often with centerback Tianna Harris squared up for any kick taken by Weichers. This time a few more players held back, perhaps expecting a need to quell a City counterattack.
"It just took us a little bit to break them down," said Lukic. "Credit to Chicago - I thought they had a really good first half. They're a physical team that gave us a good matchup."
But that opening goal seemed to take an edge off of the squad's nerves. Aurora went into the break with a 1-0 lead. Lukic made some changes and the team came out stronger in the second half: "I think we made a tactical adjustment in the midfield that really helped organize our press a little bit better, which helped us win balls back after we lost them," Lukic explained. "So I'd say that was a key moment and then the other players that came into the second half did a really good job of giving us a spark."
And what a spark that was. Minnesota scored a total of six unanswered goals in a span of 24 minutes. They were all far too good not to highlight (You can watch them all HERE) but due to limited space, here are our highlights of the highlights:
Cat Rapp and Sophie French each bagged a brace
https://twitter.com/MNAuroraFC/status/1675270794295795719
https://twitter.com/MNAuroraFC/status/1675276029600866305
Maya Hansen added her twelfth goal of the season (a new team record) in stunning fashion.
https://twitter.com/MNAuroraFC/status/1675271359071436801
Hannah Adler scored on the second touch of her shift.
https://twitter.com/MNAuroraFC/status/1675272573062459394
"I think we were a little frantic kind of [in the first half]," explained Cat Rapp, Saturday's Star Tribune Star of the Match. "I think in the first half the heat and other stuff was just making us more tired. But we'll make adjustments to play our game better, which is why we're here."
Lukic credited passion and chemistry for such consistent results, as well as their coachability . She was also quick to credit the fans, tying them into many of her comments when asked about certain moments of the match.
"Credit to the players who really just show up day in and day out, put in the work. They love this game more than most I know, and they come to train and just show up every single day so that when we get the opportunity to play in front of out amazing fan base, we're able to put seven goals in the net. And obviously people love seeing goals being scored."
Aurora moves on to the postseason, joined by Chicago City in Flint, Mich., for conference playoffs next week. The players (and staff) will get a couple days of much need rest but then they return to training and, Lukic says, the focus is the same: "As long as we continue doing the little things that we need to be doing right, it shouldn't matter where we play."
With any luck, Kettering University's Atwood Stadium will have the streaming capabilities to host 7,000-plus Aurora fans watching from Minnesota.
Aurora Thrive On Adversity, Add 5-1 Win Over Bavarian United
As a club more accustomed to creating adversity than facing it, the pitch was switched on MN Aurora this week but they emerged stronger, outscoring two Wisconsin opponents ten to one, despite a late venue change midweek and an early conceded goal that silenced TCO Stadium on Saturday night.
Poor air quality in the MSP area and throughout the state due to Canadian wildfires moved Wednesday night's home match against Green Bay Glory to an indoor venue, with no fans and no media. However, MN Aurora FC partners Eagan TV and Fox9 rallied to make the streaming show go on. Aurora won 5-0 with two goals from Cat Rapp and one each from Hannah Adler, Kylie Olsen, and Sophie French.
"I think overall, I mean the staff was probably the most stressed out because, myself included, we were the ones managing a lot of the changes and we tried to keep that off the players on Wednesday and I think we did a good job of that so they were able to just adjust to the location," head coach Nicole Lukic said on Saturday. "I think we gave them enought heads up, at four o'clock like - hey, something might happen, it might be different - like getting in that mindset and I thought that worked really well."
While Aurora proved they can do it under the dome of Stillwater's St. Croix Valley Rec Center on a pitch lined with youth soccer goals and lacrosse creases, the squad was eager to return to their true home on Saturday, celebrating Pride at a sold-out TCO Stadium. Aurora repeatedly tested the spectator limits of the Minnesota Vikings practice facility in 2022 and their sophomore year has been no different, despite all the Wednesday evening matchups. Saturday's match drew a season high 6,423 fans. Alas, the adversity continued under a nearly smoke-free sky.
Rather than scoring an early goal to get the crowd going, Aurora conceded one to Bavarian United SC. The Milwaukee-based expansion side sits in third in the Heartland Division, behind Aurora and Chicago City. Everyone watching this match quickly saw why. A high press, a quick defense, and an unshakable midfield, rattled Aurora early, forcing the hosts to defend against tactics much like their own for the first time this season.
Bavarian took control of possession early, testing Aurora's back line and looking for space. In only the 2nd minute they capitalized on a poorly-timed clearance by Abby Ostrem in Aurora's 18, catching centerback Tianna Harris and goalkeeper Amanda Poorbaugh on the back foot. Haley Johnson came through with a cool, calm finish to put Bavarian United up 1-0 and silencing a crowd more accustomed to seeing early goals from the home team.
"Obviously not the best way to start a game, two minutes in to give up a goal and let them kind of run through you," Lukic said. "And then I thought we abandoned our game plan a little bit there for 25 minutes. That rattled us a little bit more than we would have liked."
"They tested us, honestly, the first ten minutes. We had to settle ourselves in I think. I never doubted our team one bit," said centerback Tianna Harris. "We just knew to pick our heads up [after the goal] and let's freaking go."
Harris had a lot of one-v-one defensive opportunities against Haley Johnson, both strong and persistent players. Johnson got through with one but Harris was the one to hold her off through the rest of the match. "I love a challenge," she said. "I think just being a bigger body, I was trying to get something on her and just tried my best to be physical with her because she's a physical girl as well. "
The visitors continued to disrupt Aurora's midfield and managed to raise some tension. Morgan Stone made a few uncharacteristically stiff challenges, getting away with one, but earning a yellow card for another in the 24'. Hannah Adler had a great chance in the 26' but Bavarian goalkeeper Chloe Olson was up for the challenge. In the 29', Cat Rapp finally found the net following a flurry of blocked shots in a crowded box.
https://twitter.com/MNAuroraFC/status/1670229799996993540
The equalizer woke the crowd and Aurora's offense. Maya Hansen, credited with the assist to Rapp, found the go-ahead goal in the 33'. She made collecting and settling a long ball from leftback Abby Ostrem look easy, and added a clinical finish.
Hannah Adler added the insurance goal before the halftime whistle, following up her own scuffed first touch on a pass from Mariah Nguyen to tap it past Olson. The 3-1 lead was a result of a formation change after the poor start. Lukic reverted to the four-player back line after starting the night with three: "It gave us more confidence," Lukic explained. "We felt this made us feel a little bit more protected whether we needed that or not. Whether it was false confidence or real confidence, I'm not sure but it definitely worked." The switch led to three unanswered goals in 20 minutes.
"It gave us another number in the wide spaces which is where we kept finding the ball without a lot of support and ability to move forward. So overall I think it really helped us, just to settle down and get back into our settings."
Both teams came out fighting in the second half, Bavarian continuing to press while Aurora probed for shots. However, just a couple minutes in, everyone had another chance to regroup. A collision in Aurora's half in the 47' between Addison Weichers and Bavarians' Hannah Kroupa resulted in a five minute stoppage of play. Kroupa took the worst of the aerial head-to-head impact, suffering a laceration on her forehead that took a few minutes to control. Weichers was checked out and returned to the pitch as the stadium crew and athletic trainers managed the blood spilled on the turf and on Kroupa, who did not return to the game.
Aurora scored two more in the second half but Bavarian continued to make them work for it. Nguyen's goal in the 62', assisted by a long range cross in from Eli Rapp, may have secured the game as momentum, both on the pitch an finally shifted fully in Aurora's favor.
Aurora continued to display their depth and versatility putting a fifth goal from a fifth goalscorer in the 76' Harris got her head on a corner served in by Weichers and notched her fourth such goal of the season. Harris earned Star of the Game honors for the finish but credited the service for the opportunity.
"I love defending but attacking, that's my thing. I love it. So when I get the chance in the box and honestly, great service is provided -- me and Addy [Weichers] have kind of developed a little bit of a bond and she basically just puts it right on my head. I don't have to do too much. She's amazing."
It all came together on Saturday night, just as it all came together on Wednesday, and Aurora FC is embracing the circumstances thrown at them this season. Harris explained: "All those types of adversity are prepping us for playoffs. So we kind of look at it like, listen, this is what they gave us. We're gonna take it, make the best out of it. And I think we're just getting ready for playoffs and all of this is just part of the plot, I'm telling you."
Aurora's next chapter will be on the road. They will travel to Racine on Wednesday for a second meeting with RKC Third Coast and then to Milwaukee on Saturday for a rematch with Bavarian United. Saturday's win puts more distance between first place Aurora (24 points) and second place Chicago City (16 points), but Bavarian is still in a close third (13 points).
