Following a first half that somewhat resembled Aurora's win in Madison where Aurora scored two goals, the second half could not have been anymore different. Five second half goals, with four coming in a span of around ten minutes, rocketed Minnesota Aurora to a massive 7-0 win over Rally Madison and to a 5-0-0 record as the halfway point of the campaign approaches.
Coming off four consecutive wins and clean sheets manager Jen Larrick made just a few changes from the last match against River Light. Kyra Karfonta, Olivia Rush, and Flavie Dubé stepped into the starting eleven replacing Talia Coury, Skye Leach, and Maia Tabion.
Giuliano Oliviero on the other hand only kept two players in the eleven from Rally Madison's home meeting with Aurora. Rally brought only three subs for the showdown in Eagan.
Northland Soccer Journal
Early on the match looked eerily similar to the first meeting between the clubs, with Aurora dominating right out of the gate. And that control paid off within the first 20 minutes with Ai Kitagawa driving home a goal after a massive breakout. Three minutes after Kitagawa's goal Kyra Karfonta whipped a cross into the box that Thalia Morisi got her head on and sent in from point blank range to double the lead.
Just like the first meeting between the sides Rally Madison held out the remainder of the first half, keeping Aurora at bay no matter how much the hosts pushed for goal. But the second half of football was much different compared to what was seen in Madison. Gone was the forced high press of Rally that pushed Aurora to the brink and threatened to score a few times. Rather now Rally Madison was kept on the back foot and was almost entirely unable to break out of their own defensive third. With only two field players on the bench it was going to be a long night for the Rally eleven and that ended up showing just 15 minutes into the second half.
Following a through ball from defender Kyra Karfonta, Kalo Iongi broke out down the pitch and slotted home Aurora's third goal of the night. Three minutes later Aurora brought on their final substitute with goalkeeper Isaac Ranson making his debut for the teal. He wasn't given much work on the night thanks to the possession of the Aurora offence, but did collect a single save after collecting a ball inside the box.
The storm that had been haunting Eagan all evening finally rolled in and with thunder and lightning around, Aurora decided it was time for it to rain goals. Angela Gutierrez scored her first in the 72nd minuted, followed up three minutes later with Flavie Dubé's first goal of the season to make it 5-0. Ai Kitagawa snatched herself a brace in the 77th minute and shortly after Flavie Dubé got her second on the night to make it 7-0.
With six minutes and stoppage left to play, the officials called the match due to the lightning in the area handing Aurora their biggest win of 2026 and fifth clean sheet of the season. For Rally Madison it was their fifth consecutive loss and worst one in club history.
Next up for Minnesota Aurora is their third home match of the season as they host 1-0-3 (W-D-L) RKC Third Coast on Saturday evening at TCO Stadium. That match is part of a women's sports double header with the Lynx tipping off earlier that day.
For Rally Madison they will have a few days to recover before next Tuesday's match against River Light FC back at Breese Stevens Field. That match is Rally's second home match of the season and they'll look to finally get a win as we wind into the second half of the W League season.
