Another match, another win, and another clean sheet for Minnesota Aurora is how the night went for the visitors from the North Star State. After a rough and tight first half, Minnesota broke out in the second half and hammered in three goals to take a massive three-nil away win to start the second half of the season.
Both Minnesota Aurora and Sioux Falls City made significant changes for the Tuesday evening match. Coming partially due to fixture congestion, along the heat advisory in Sioux Falls on Tuesday. Joe DeMay made five changes for city, while Jen Larrick made seven for Aurora. Only Maia Tabion, Haylee Mersereau, Kyra Karfonta, and Ai Kitagawa stayed in the lineup from Saturday's win against RKC.
Northland Soccer Journal
Right from the opening kick Minnesota Aurora started pressuring the hosts. But the big change to the match occurred near the 20th minute Sioux Falls starting goalkeeper Hannah Johann was sent off following her handling the ball outside of the box. This forced Sioux Falls City to play down a player and with backup goalkeeper Iyán Hernandez for 70 minutes. And with Aurora already threatening to score, Minnesota made it a long 35 minutes to close out the first half.
After the red card Sioux Falls dropped back further to try and prevent any Aurora chances and City was able to use it to repel most attacks. The best chance for Aurora came right at the 45the minute when Maia Tabion came within inches of scoring when banged the shot off the post.
Northland Soccer Journal
Aurora came out of half-time swinging and just one minute into the half midfielder Gracie Dunaway (Purdue grad) sent a banger into goal to break the deadlock. Dunaway's opener was her first goal of the season and with Minnesota Aurora. Two minutes later Skye Leach added a tally to the scoreboard with her first of the 2026 season.
Minnesota continued to pressure and push for a third goal, wearing down Sioux Falls minute by minute. That continued to wear down an already shorthanded Sioux Falls City side and paid off late in the second half. Hadli Barrera took a pass from Jeanette Fieldsend and whipped the shot around SFC goalkeeper Iyán Hernandez to bring Aurora up 3-0 in the 82nd minute.
The visitors continued to pressure for the final ten minutes of play on a hot surface at Bob Young Field. Sioux Falls, even with the substitutions, was looking exhausted while Aurora still had a bit extra. Minnesota did not score again in the final eight minutes plus stoppage, but ended with their seventh consecutive win on the season.
Up next for Sioux Falls is a road trip to Racine, WI on Friday to face RKC Third Coast in the two sides only meeting during the 2026 USL W League season. RKC has only won a single match to this point, but hopes to defeat Rochester on Wednesday night.
As for Aurora it's back home for their fourth home match of the season as they face Edgewater Castle in the two sides first ever meeting. Last years UWS National Champion Edgewater Castle will prove to be another tough match for Minnesota Aurora.
