Jun 30, 2024
Minnesota Aurora FC Wins Heartland Division in 14-0 Victory Over RKC Third Coast
RACINE, Wis. – Minnesota Aurora FC captured its third-straight Heartland Division title in a dominant 14-0 victory over RKC Third Coast on Saturday night.
Conference Semifinals and Finals will take place July 5-7. Host sites are to be determined.
“It was a business trip for us this weekend,” said Aurora assistant coach Tom Klecezewski. “Two games, as we continue to prepare for the playoffs. We came focused on our attacking objectives and prepared ourselves for some great opponents coming up.”
The 14 goals are a franchise record for most goals scored in a single match.
Aurora raced out of the gates to an early 1-0 lead, thanks to Tess Werts’ goal in the sixth minute. After Katie Duong hooked a cross to the far side of the 18-yard box, Werts flicked a ball to the top corner, beating RKC’s Ella Kratochvil to unlock the contest.
Minnesota had an abundance of chances following the goal, drawing five saves from Third Coast’s keeper over the next 20 minutes. However, the levy finally broke for Aurora in the 33rd minute.
After an RKC defender struggled to clear the ball out of their defensive third, a bouncing ball dropped to the feet of Giada Zhou, who tucked it away for a 2-0 lead.
Two minutes later, the trademark Aurora high press came through. Sage Wimes won the ball back after a challenge, heaving a pass into the penalty area that found the foot of Sophie French for a 3-0 lead 35 minutes in.
In the 42nd minute, Katie Duong took a hit from distance that found its way through for the 4-0 lead. It marked the seventh straight match Duong has scored in.
Aurora shifted into third gear coming out of the halftime break. Minnesota scored seven goals in a 25-minute span, getting tallies from Cat Rapp in the 51st and 53rd minutes, Wimes and Lydia Ruppert in the 57th, Rapp again in the 62nd and Kaylie Chambers in the 67th. Cat Rapp notched her fourth of the evening with a 70th minute strike that made it 11-0.
Morgan Stone found the net in the 74th minute, while Chambers tacked on her second of the night three minutes later in the 77th.
Sofia Bush, a second half substitute Saturday, put a bow on the night with an 85th minute goal that made it 14-0.
With her four tallies, Rapp becomes the first player in Aurora history to score four goals in a single match. Meanwhile, Minnesota’s 14 goals are tied for the second-most in a match in the USL W League this season.
Aurora now waits to find out its playoff opponent, having already locked up the Heartland Division crown.
