Aurora seek to complete undefeated inaugural season with USL W League title
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A sellout crowd is expected Saturday night at TCO Stadium as Minnesota Aurora FC hosts South Georgia Tormenta FC for the first-ever USL W League championship game.
The Aurora have exceeded all expectations this summer, finishing the regular season as the only undefeated team in the league. Their only match that didn’t end with a win was a draw in their May 26 opener against Green Bay Glory.
“We could have never imagined this,” said Andrea Yoch, Aurora FC president and co-founder.
Yoch says the club’s strong showing in its first year owes a lot to the community, with crowds and fans coming not only from around the state, but across the world. “Without them, we wouldn’t be here,” she said.
The only concern about Saturday’s match is the possibility for severe storms. But since it’s the championship, Yoch says the show must go on.
Minnesota Aurora FC midfielder Sangmin Cha rallies her team before a semifinal playoff game with McLean Soccer on Sunday, July 17, 2022, at TCO Stadium in Eagan. (Dan Mick/ Minnesota Aurora FC)
“There is going to be a winner one way or another,” she said. “If the weather is severe, fan safety and player safety is our number one priority. So there is a big parking garage out at viking lakes. We will move everyone out to the parking garage.”
USL W League President Amanda Vandervort says no matter who wins the title game, getting this far is really a win for all women’s soccer.
“Here we are, kind of celebrating this new emergence of a league that is bringing soccer to communities that have never had it at this level before,” Vandervort said.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. About 6,500 supporters are anticipated to attend.