For five straight seasons Minnesota Aurora has run roughshot through the USLW's Heartland Division and have never lost a match. Aurora completed their most recent unbeaten season this past weekend with another weather affected win. This time coming away from home over RKC Third Coast, putting Aurora to a perfect 12-0-0 record. Only once has the club done that, coming in 2023 when they fell to Indy Eleven in the Central Conference Final.
Unlike in 2023 there are no other teams with an unblemished and perfect record. All other clubs unbeaten clubs have dropped points with draws, most notably FC Miami City who only won five of their ten matches on the season. That meant that Aurora also clinched their third regular season league title.
Final Week of the Regular Season
Match 11 at Rochester FC
A second rain shortened match on the season started the week for Aurora as they traveled to Rochester, MN. Right before the half Angela Gutierrez slotted a goal home for the visitors to hand them a one goal lead. Shortly after the second half started the rain started pouring followed by lightning and a weather delay. Rather than resuming the match the officials called it early due to the severe weather, giving Aurora their 11th win of the season.
Match 12 at RKC Third Coast
Finishing off the regular season was a trip to Racine, WI for a rematch with RKC Third Coast. Last time the two sides faced off RKC's stout defence held Aurora to just a single goal. But in Racine that would end up being far from the case as Aurora's offence smashed three past the Gulls.
Kaitlyn Slocum's 31st minute goal was the only one of the first half. After the break Aurora quickly scored again, this one coming from Jelena Zbiljic at the penalty spot. Jeanette Fieldsend rounded out the scoring with an 81st minute goal. Shortly after the match was hit with a weather delay and after a 30 minute delay the teams finished off the final four minutes and change, with no change on the scoreboard. The 3-0 win secured Aurora their second ever perfect season and a third USL W League regular season title.
Next Up, Playoffs:
Now comes the biggest challenge for not only Minnesota Aurora but all 16 teams who made the W League Playoffs. A four round, single elimination, knockout tournament to decide the National Champion. The playoffs open this Friday with the Conference Semi-Finals followed by the Conference Finals on Sunday. The winners then advance to the National Semi-Finals on the weekend of July 11th. One week later is the USL W League National Championship, pitting the two national semi-final winners against each other.
Minnesota Aurora will open the playoffs on Friday afternoon at 2:30pm against Union FC Macomb (7-1-2, Great Lakes) at FNB Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA. Hosts Pittsburgh Riveters then play Racing Louisville's W League side at 6pm. The two winners will meet on Sunday, 5 July at 6:00pm for the Central Conference Championship.
