For the second consecutive season Minnesota Aurora's season ended in the National Semi-Finals. Following two wins in Pittsburgh in the Central Conference playoffs the club traveled to Seattle to face Salmon Bay FC. It was Aurora's fifth straight match away from TCO Stadium in Eagan and after a tough shootout for both sides, Salmon Bay walked away with the win.
Almost right off the bat Aurora took the lead, but in the oddest of circumstances. A ball was played back from the Salmon Bay keeper, near the end line to a defender. She then touched the ball as it lied on the pitch as if to set up for a goal kick, except the ball had never left the field of play, handing Aurora a penalty kick. Ai Kitagawa stepped to the spot and converted what for the longest time seemed like the match winner.
Aurora 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 ✨
— USL W League (@USLWLeague) July 12, 2026
Ai Kitagawa steps up and scores from the spot to give @MNAuroraFC the lead 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/Lp2I3UXkmV
Each team would push for a goal with Aurora trying desperately to score a second goal to secure the win, but were unable to do so. As the back and forth match approached the full-time whistle it appeared that Aurora was heading back to the National Championship.
But right at the death Aurora goalkeeper Taylor Fox was called for a foul when she was prevented by a Salmon Bay player from pulling down a ball inside the box. That call sent Salmon Bay to spot for a penalty, which they converted to force extra time.
A LIFELINE IN THE 90TH 🛟@SalmonBayFC's Ui Kaaihue keeps the dream alive with a clutch penalty in the 90th minute, sending this semifinal to extra time! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/TsEugujcpc
— USL W League (@USLWLeague) July 12, 2026
In extra time Flavie Dubé was handed a second yellow card, sending her off the pitch and forcing Aurora to play down a player for nearly the full 30 minutes. But in that thirty minute time frame, even down a player, Aurora looked to be the better of the two sides. Neither Minnesota or Salmon Bay were able to score the all important goal in extra time, sending the match to penalties.
Three rounds into the shootout, Aurora had the lead at 2-1 and everything looked good for the visitors. But that's where the magic ran out for Minnesota in another amazing season. Angela Gutierrez's shot was blocked in the fourth round followed by a goal for Salmon Bay. In the fifth round goalkeeper Taylor Fox stepped up for the kick and missed wide, followed by SBFC making their fifth shot and putting the dagger in Minnesota.
After five seasons Minnesota Aurora has a record of 55 wins and 5 draws in the regular season, but has still been unable to secure themselves a National Playoff Title. For Salmon Bay they will play their 15th match of the season in the Seattle area on 18 July when they host Eastern winner Vermont Green in the National Final.
