Minnesota Aurora FC midfielder Ai Kitagawa (31) strikes the ball for a goal past River Light defender Victoria Adams (30) at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Lake / Lake Photography)
Aurora hosted River Light FC on Saturday afternoon in a 4-1 victory that clinched the USL-W Heartland Division for the fifth year in a row. Here are our photos from the pitch from photography editor Michael Lake and contributing photographer Zachary Diaz.
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A tifo reads “We are the change we were waiting for” at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Lake / Lake Photography)Minnesota Aurora FC defender Amelia Brown (52) at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Zachary Diaz)River Light forward Tessa Fagerson (27) prepares for kickoff at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Lake / Lake Photography)Minnesota Aurora FC midfielder Gracie Dunaway (2) dribbles the ball with River Light defender Emily Roberts (24) in tow at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Lake / Lake Photography)Minnesota Aurora FC midfielder Thalia Morisi (18) and River Light player Caroline Birdsell (9) vie for the ball at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Lake / Lake Photography)River Light defender Victoria Adams (30) shields Minnesota Aurora FC midfielder Gracie Dunaway (2) off the ball at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Lake / Lake Photography)Minnesota Aurora FC defender Kyra Karfonta (13) and River Light midfielder Gabrielle Smith (8) contest the ball at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Zachary Diaz)Minnesota Aurora FC midfielder Gracie Dunaway (2) at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Lake / Lake Photography)Minnesota Aurora FC midfielder Hannah Boughton (15) at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Lake / Lake Photography)Minnesota Aurora FC defender Kyra Karfonta (13) at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Lake / Lake Photography)Minnesota Aurora FC goalkeeper Taylor Fox (1) distributes the ball at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Zachary Diaz)Minnesota Aurora FC midfielder Ai Kitagawa (31) makes a break toward her opening goal at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Lake / Lake Photography)Minnesota Aurora FC midfielder Ai Kitagawa (31) strikes the ball for a goal past River Light defender Victoria Adams (30) at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Lake / Lake Photography)Minnesota Aurora FC midfielder Ai Kitagawa (31) strikes the ball for a goal past River Light defender Victoria Adams (30) at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Lake / Lake Photography)The crowd waves scarves at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Zachary Diaz)Minnesota Aurora FC midfielder Jelena Zbiljic (21) looks for a passing opportunity at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Lake / Lake Photography)River Light celebrates a goal at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Lake / Lake Photography)River Light player Gabrielle Smith (8) passes the ball under pressure from Minnesota Aurora FC midfielders Gracie Dunaway (2) and Jeanette Fieldsend (20) at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Lake / Lake Photography)Minnesota Aurora FC midfielder Jeanette Fieldsend (20) attempts to navigate through River Light defense at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Lake / Lake Photography)River Light player Gabrielle Smith (8) dribbles the ball at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Lake / Lake Photography)Minnesota Aurora FC midfielder/forward Flavie Dubé (12) at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Lake / Lake Photography)Minnesota Aurora FC midfielder Ai Kitagawa (31) and midfielder/forward Flavie Dubé (12) celebrate a goal at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Zachary Diaz)Minnesota Aurora FC midfielder Gracie Dunaway (2) kicks the ball at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Zachary Diaz)Minnesota Aurora FC midfielders Ai Kitagawa (31) and Gracie Dunaway (2) celebrate a goal at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Zachary Diaz)Minnesota Aurora FC midfielder Gracie Dunaway (2) chases the ball at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Zachary Diaz)Minnesota Aurora FC midfielder Hadli Barrera (25) dribbles against River Light defender Victoria Adams (30) at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Zachary Diaz)Minnesota Aurora FC forward/midfielder Maia Tabion (8) at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Zachary Diaz)Minnesota Aurora FC defender Amelia Brown (52) strikes the ball at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Zachary Diaz)Minnesota Aurora FC defender Amelia Brown (52) at the Minnesota Aurora vs River Light USL-W match on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by Zachary Diaz)
Three more Minnesota Aurora players signed their first professional contract last week, continuing what has become one of the best pipelines in the US.
As the non-conference slate continues, the 0-2 North Dakota State Bison entered the third game of their 8-game home stand to host the 1-0-1 Minnesota Golden Gophers.
League Two co-Golden Boot winner Nathan Donovan of Minneapolis City has been awarded the league's overall Player of the Year award. Donovan racked up 16 regular-season goals for the perfect Crows, in a process setting a new single-season record for the club.
Despite the loss the home team had plenty of memories to delve into throughout the Minnesota United 10 year anniversary match. Have a look back at the events of matchday 21 with our photo gallery.
