Minnesota Aurora FC

{{Infobox football club

| clubname = Minnesota Aurora FC

| image = File:MN_Aurora_FC_Crest.png

| upright = 0.7

| fullname =

| founded = {{start date and age|2021|}}

| stadium = TCO Stadium
Eagan, Minnesota

| capacity = 6,000

| mgrtitle = Head coach

| manager = Jen Larrick

| league = USL W League

| season = 2023

| position = 1st, Heartland Division
Playoffs: Conference Final

| website = https://www.mnaurora.com/

| American = true

| kit_alt1 = Midnight Blue

| pattern_la1 = _orange_border

| pattern_b1 = _orangecollar

| pattern_ra1 = _orange_border

| pattern_sh1 =

| pattern_so1 =

| leftarm1 = 191970

| body1 = 191970

| rightarm1 = 191970

| shorts1 = 151b54

| socks1 = 151b54

| kit_alt2 = Teal

| pattern_la2 = _thinorangeborder

| pattern_b2 = _whitestripes4

| pattern_ra2 = _thinorangeborder

| pattern_sh2 =

| pattern_so2 =

| leftarm2 = fff

| body2 = 00A693

| rightarm2 = fff

| shorts2 = 5cb3ff

| socks2 = 5cb3ff

}}

Minnesota Aurora FC is an American women's soccer club based in Eagan, Minnesota that plays in the Heartland Division of the USL W League. The club began play in the league's inaugural 2022 season as a founding club. The club is community-owned by 3,080 individuals.{{Cite web|url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2022/05/24/3000-owners-1-million-crowdfunded-minnesota-aurora-community-ownership-details/|title=With 3,000 owners and $1 million, Minnesota Aurora aims to rewrite the ownership playbook|publisher=Equalizer Soccer|first=Jeff|last=Kassouf|accessdate=June 25, 2022|date=May 24, 2022|archive-date=June 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622140157/https://equalizersoccer.com/2022/05/24/3000-owners-1-million-crowdfunded-minnesota-aurora-community-ownership-details/|url-status=live}} The club plays its home games at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota, the same stadium the Minnesota Vikings use for practice.

History

Minnesota Aurora FC officially sold out their ownership sales on December 15, 2021. The team introduced their coaching staff a few days later, naming Nicole Lukic as the head coach and ensuring the team would be women-led.{{Cite web |url= https://www.mnaurora.com/news/2021/12/17/coaching-staff-announced/ |title= Coaching Staff Announced |publisher= Minnesota Aurora |accessdate= June 25, 2022 |date= December 17, 2021 |archive-date= June 22, 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220622194454/https://www.mnaurora.com/news/2021/12/17/coaching-staff-announced/ |url-status= live }} The team held tryouts during the spring of 2022 and in May the team announced a partnership with local broadcaster WCCO to stream all home games for free.{{Cite web |url= https://www.mnaurora.com/news/2022/05/18/minnesota-aurora-fc-partners-with-wcco-tv-to-stream-all-home-games/ |title= Minnesota Aurora FC partners with WCCO TV to stream all home games |publisher= Minnesota Aurora |accessdate= June 25, 2022 |date= May 18, 2022 |archive-date= June 22, 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220622194454/https://www.mnaurora.com/news/2022/05/18/minnesota-aurora-fc-partners-with-wcco-tv-to-stream-all-home-games/ |url-status= live }} The team held their first game at TCO Stadium on May 26, 2022, against Green Bay Glory. The match resulted in a draw but the Minnesota team drew 5,219 fans.{{Cite web |url= https://www.mnaurora.com/news/2022/06/01/minnesota-aurora-draws-first-ever-game-in-front-5219/ |title= Minnesota Aurora draws first ever game in front 5,219 |publisher= Minnesota Aurora |accessdate= June 25, 2022 |date= June 1, 2022 |archive-date= June 26, 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220626155259/https://www.mnaurora.com/news/2022/06/01/minnesota-aurora-draws-first-ever-game-in-front-5219/ |url-status= live }} Their first win would be against Kaw Valley on June 2.

File:Minnesota Aurora on June 12, 2022.jpg

On October 24, 2022, the club sent a letter to its community owners stating an intent to become a fully professional team. The Aurora would continue to play in the USL W League through the 2023 season, possibly moving to National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) or the USL Super League in 2024.{{cite web |last1=Zgoda |first1=Jerry |title=Minnesota Aurora talking to investors about jumping to a professional league |url=https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-aurora-investors-professional-soccer-league/600218593/ |website=Star Tribune |access-date=October 24, 2022 |archive-date=October 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024192242/https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-aurora-investors-professional-soccer-league/600218593/ |url-status=live }} The club announced their intent to submit an official expansion bid for the NWSL in November.{{cite news |last=Greder |first=Andy |date=November 3, 2022 |title=Minnesota Aurora to submit bid to join National Women's Soccer League |url=https://www.twincities.com/2022/11/03/minnesota-aurora-to-submit-bid-to-join-national-womens-soccer-league/ |work=Pioneer Press |accessdate=November 3, 2022 |archive-date=November 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103223817/https://www.twincities.com/2022/11/03/minnesota-aurora-to-submit-bid-to-join-national-womens-soccer-league/ |url-status=live }} The team notified its community owners on August 15, 2024, that it would be dropping out of the NWSL bid process due to "circumstances out of [their] control".{{cite web |last1=Marthaler |first1=Jon |title=Minnesota Aurora FC pulls out of running for 2026 NWSL expansion franchise |url=https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-aurora-fc-nwsl-expansion-franchise-withdraws/601111695 |website=www.startribune.com |publisher=Star Tribune |access-date=August 15, 2024 |language=en |date=August 15, 2024}}

Branding

The crest of Minnesota Aurora FC features a stylized Aurora swooping above a forest with a star hanging to the right. The inspiration for the design came from Minnesota's northern geographic identity and nickname of the North Star State.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-womens-soccer-aurora-fc/|title=Minnesota Women's Soccer Is Officially Named Aurora FC|website=www.cbsnews.com|accessdate=June 25, 2022|date=January 27, 2022|archive-date=June 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622140159/https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-womens-soccer-aurora-fc/|url-status=live}} The crest was designed by local designer Nicole Meyer, along with help from colleagues Allie Reinke and Carla Zetina-Yglesias.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kare11.com/article/sports/soccer/minnesota-aurora/minnesota-aurora-fc-creating-logo-nicole-meyer-womens-soccer/89-b92a271e-dfb6-4ceb-96b3-f4abee8789a6|title=Creating Aurora: Meet the woman who helped design Minnesota's new USL W team brand |accessdate= June 25, 2022 |date=February 2, 2022|website=kare11.com}} The crest was originally one of three designs, all of which were voted on by the community members.{{Cite web|url=https://www.audacy.com/wccoradio/local-sports/local/minnesota-aurora-fc-announce-team-name|title=Minnesota Aurora FC announced as team name for Minnesota women's soccer team|date=January 27, 2022|website=www.audacy.com|accessdate=June 25, 2022|archive-date=June 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622140332/https://www.audacy.com/wccoradio/local-sports/local/minnesota-aurora-fc-announce-team-name|url-status=live}} Other names considered for the new team included Arctic Minnesota and Minnesota Foxfire FC, all designed by Meyer, Reinke, and Zetina-Yglesias.{{cite news |last=Bertels |first=Kevin |date=January 27, 2022 |title=Now more than a glimmer, women's soccer team will be Minnesota Aurora FC |url=https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-aurora-fc-name-new-minnesota-womens-soccer-club/600140245/ |work=Star Tribune |accessdate=March 22, 2024 |archive-date=March 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323053646/https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-aurora-fc-name-new-minnesota-womens-soccer-club/600140245/ |url-status=live }}

The kit worn by MN Aurora FC was designed by Cassidy Sepnieski and was revealed on April 9, 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mnaurora.com/news/2022/04/09/the-northern-lights-constellation-kits/|title=The Northern Lights & Constellation Kits|publisher=Minnesota Aurora|accessdate=June 25, 2022|archive-date=June 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622193059/https://www.mnaurora.com/news/2022/04/09/the-northern-lights-constellation-kits/|url-status=live}} Manufactured by Hummel International, the home kit features a dark background with a borealis swirling in the center.{{Cite web|url=https://news.sportslogos.net/2022/04/12/usl-w-leagues-minnesota-aurora-fc-shoots-for-the-stars-with-inaugural-kits/soccer/|title=USL W League's Minnesota Aurora FC Shoots for the Stars with Inaugural Kits|website=SportsLogos.Net News|accessdate=June 25, 2022|date=April 12, 2022|archive-date=June 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627140007/https://news.sportslogos.net/2022/04/12/usl-w-leagues-minnesota-aurora-fc-shoots-for-the-stars-with-inaugural-kits/soccer/|url-status=live}} The away kit is bright teal, with interlinking stars forming constellations. The goalkeeper kit is "flash red" and also sports the same constellation pattern as the away kit.

Club culture

The club has one supporters' group, named Revontulet (Finnish for Northern Lights), which sits in a designated section at the stadium.{{cite news |last=Volk |first=John |date=May 27, 2022 |title=Minnesota Aurora holds lead until final minute of debut, draws 1-1 with Green Bay |url=https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-aurora-first-match-draw-green-bay-usl-w/600176894/ |work=Star Tribune |accessdate=March 22, 2024 |archive-date=March 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323053543/https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-aurora-first-match-draw-green-bay-usl-w/600176894/ |url-status=live }}

Players and staff

=Current Roster=

class="wikitable sortable"
style="background:#8CD2F4; color:#231F20; border:2px solid #E4E5E6;" scope="col"\|No. ! style="background:#8CD2F4; color:#231F20; border:2px solid #E4E5E6;" scope="col"\|Pos. ! style="background:#8CD2F4; color:#231F20; border:2px solid #E4E5E6;" scope="col"\|Home ! style="background:#8CD2F4; color:#231F20; border:2px solid #E4E5E6;" scope="col"\|Player
{{Football squad player sort \|no=00 \|nat=GER \|pos=GK \|first=Sophie \|last=Augustin\|nolink=1}} {{Football squad player sort \|no=0 \|nat=JPN \|pos=GK \|first=Mio \|last=Nakajima\|nolink=1}} {{Football squad player sort \|no=1 \|nat=USA \|pos=GK \|first=Taylor \|last=Kane\|nolink=1}} {{Football squad player sort \|no=2 \|nat=USA \|pos=DF \|first=Alicia \|last=Donley\|nolink=1}} {{Football squad player sort \|no=3 \|nat=USA \|pos=MF \|first=Sophie \| last=French\|nolink=1}} {{Football squad player sort \|no=4 \|nat=USA \|pos=MF \|first=Morgan \| last=Stone\|nolink=1}} {{Football squad player sort \|no=5 \|nat=USA \|pos=MF \|first=Sofia \| last=Bush\|nolink=1}} {{Football squad player sort \|no=6 \|nat=USA \|pos=MF \|first=Rami \|last=Rapp\|nolink=1}} {{Football squad player sort \|no=7 \|nat=USA \|pos=DF \|first=Elizabeth \|last=Rapp\|nolink=1}} {{Football squad player sort \|no=8 \|nat=USA \|pos=FW \|first=Kaylie \|last=Chambers\|nolink=1}} {{Football squad player sort \|no=9 \|nat=USA \|pos=MF \|first=Lydia \|last=Ruppert\|nolink=1}} {{Football squad player sort \|no=10 \|nat=ITA \|pos=MF \|first=Yao Giada \|last=Zhou\|nolink=1}} {{Football squad player sort \|no=11 \|nat=USA \|pos=FW \|first=Tess \|last=Werts\|nolink=1}} {{Football squad player sort \|no=12 \|nat=USA \|pos=DF \|first=Taylor\|last=Shell\|nolink=1}} {{Football squad player sort \|no=13 \|nat=USA \|pos=FW \|first=Maya \|last=Hansen\|nolink=1}} {{Football squad player sort \|no=14 \|nat=FRA \|pos=MF \|first=Servane \|last=Blouin\|nolink=1}} {{Football squad player sort \|no=15 \|nat=USA \|pos=MF \|first=Addison\|last=Weichers}} {{Football squad player sort \|no=17 \|nat=USA \|pos=MF \|first=Kacie \|last=Laurie\|nolink=1}} {{Football squad player sort \|no=18 \|nat=USA \|pos=MF \|first=Jill\|last=Bennett\|nolink=1}} {{Football squad player sort \|no=19 \|nat=USA \|pos=MF \|first=Mariah\|last=Nguyen\|nolink=1}} {{Football squad player sort \|no=20 \|nat=USA \|pos=FW \|first=Catherine\|last=Rapp\|nolink=1}} {{Football squad player sort \|no=21 \|nat=USA \|pos=MF \|first=Jelena \|last=Zbiljic\|nolink=1}} {{Football squad player sort \|no=22 \|nat=NZL \|pos=FW \|first=Stella\|last=Lawson\|nolink=1}} {{Football squad player sort \|no=23 \|nat=USA \|pos=DF \|first=Assa \|last=Kante\|nolink=1}} {{Football squad player sort \|no=24 \|nat=USA \|pos=FW \|first=Saige \|last=Wimes\|nolink=1}} {{Football squad player sort \|no=27 \|nat=USA \|pos=DF \|first=Julie\|last=Sattler\|nolink=1}} {{Football squad player sort \|no=30 \|nat=USA \|pos=MF \|first=Katie\|last=Duong\|nolink=}} {{Football squad player sort \|no=33 \|nat=USA \|pos=DF \|first=Nicole \|last=Norfolk\|nolink=1}} {{Football squad player sort \|no=51 \|nat=USA \|pos=DF \|first=Kelis \|last=Barton\|nolink=1}}

class="wikitable sortable"

style="background:#8CD2F4; color:#231F20; border:2px solid #E4E5E6;" scope="col"|No.

! style="background:#8CD2F4; color:#231F20; border:2px solid #E4E5E6;" scope="col"|Pos.

! style="background:#8CD2F4; color:#231F20; border:2px solid #E4E5E6;" scope="col"|Home

! style="background:#8CD2F4; color:#231F20; border:2px solid #E4E5E6;" scope="col"|Player

{{Football squad player sort |no=00 |nat=GER |pos=GK |first=Sophie |last=Augustin|nolink=1}}

{{Football squad player sort |no=0 |nat=JPN |pos=GK |first=Mio |last=Nakajima|nolink=1}}

{{Football squad player sort |no=1 |nat=USA |pos=GK |first=Taylor |last=Kane|nolink=1}}

{{Football squad player sort |no=2 |nat=USA |pos=DF |first=Alicia |last=Donley|nolink=1}}

{{Football squad player sort |no=3 |nat=USA |pos=MF |first=Sophie | last=French|nolink=1}}

{{Football squad player sort |no=4 |nat=USA |pos=MF |first=Morgan | last=Stone|nolink=1}}

{{Football squad player sort |no=5 |nat=USA |pos=MF |first=Sofia | last=Bush|nolink=1}}

{{Football squad player sort |no=6 |nat=USA |pos=MF |first=Rami |last=Rapp|nolink=1}}

{{Football squad player sort |no=7 |nat=USA |pos=DF |first=Elizabeth |last=Rapp|nolink=1}}

{{Football squad player sort |no=8 |nat=USA |pos=FW |first=Kaylie |last=Chambers|nolink=1}}

{{Football squad player sort |no=9 |nat=USA |pos=MF |first=Lydia |last=Ruppert|nolink=1}}

{{Football squad player sort |no=10 |nat=ITA |pos=MF |first=Yao Giada |last=Zhou|nolink=1}}

{{Football squad player sort |no=11 |nat=USA |pos=FW |first=Tess |last=Werts|nolink=1}}

{{Football squad player sort |no=12 |nat=USA |pos=DF |first=Taylor|last=Shell|nolink=1}}

{{Football squad player sort |no=13 |nat=USA |pos=FW |first=Maya |last=Hansen|nolink=1}}

{{Football squad player sort |no=14 |nat=FRA |pos=MF |first=Servane |last=Blouin|nolink=1}}

{{Football squad player sort |no=15 |nat=USA |pos=MF |first=Addison|last=Weichers}}

{{Football squad player sort |no=17 |nat=USA |pos=MF |first=Kacie |last=Laurie|nolink=1}}

{{Football squad player sort |no=18 |nat=USA |pos=MF |first=Jill|last=Bennett|nolink=1}}

{{Football squad player sort |no=19 |nat=USA |pos=MF |first=Mariah|last=Nguyen|nolink=1}}

{{Football squad player sort |no=20 |nat=USA |pos=FW |first=Catherine|last=Rapp|nolink=1}}

{{Football squad player sort |no=21 |nat=USA |pos=MF |first=Jelena |last=Zbiljic|nolink=1}}

{{Football squad player sort |no=22 |nat=NZL |pos=FW |first=Stella|last=Lawson|nolink=1}}

{{Football squad player sort |no=23 |nat=USA |pos=DF |first=Assa |last=Kante|nolink=1}}

{{Football squad player sort |no=24 |nat=USA |pos=FW |first=Saige |last=Wimes|nolink=1}}

{{Football squad player sort |no=27 |nat=USA |pos=DF |first=Julie|last=Sattler|nolink=1}}

{{Football squad player sort |no=30 |nat=USA |pos=MF |first=Katie|last=Duong|nolink=}}

{{Football squad player sort |no=33 |nat=USA |pos=DF |first=Nicole |last=Norfolk|nolink=1}}

{{Football squad player sort |no=51 |nat=USA |pos=DF |first=Kelis |last=Barton|nolink=1}}

=Management=

Coaching staff{{Cite web |title=Technical Staff |url=https://www.mnaurora.com/technical-staff/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250320154139/https://mnaurora.com/club/front-office-staff/ |archive-date=March 20, 2025 |accessdate=June 13, 2025 |publisher=Minnesota Aurora}}

Jen Larrick – head coach
Melanie Thomas – assistant coach
Lydia Ruppert – assistant coach
Cody Cropper – goalkeeper coach

Record

=Year-by-year=

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" ! scope="col" rowspan="2" \| Season ! colspan=8 class="unsortable" \|USL W League ! scope="col" rowspan="2" class="unsortable" \| Playoffs ! scope="col" colspan="2" class="unsortable" \| Top Scorer ! scope="col" rowspan="2" class="unsortable" \| Head Coach
{{tooltip\|P\|Games played}} !{{tooltip\|W\|Games won}} !{{tooltip\|L\|Games lost}} !{{tooltip\|D\|Games drawn}} !{{tooltip\|GF\|Goals for}} !{{tooltip\|GA\|Goals against}} !{{tooltip\|Pts\|Points}} !{{tooltip\|Pos\|Position}} ! class="unsortable" \| Player ! class="unsortable" \| Goals
2022 \|12 \|11 \|0 \|1 \|35 \|8 \|34 \|bgcolor=#b3b7ff\|1st, Heartland \|bgcolor=silver\|League Final \|{{flagicon\|USA}} Morgan Turner \|6 \|rowspan=2\|{{flagicon\|USA}} Nicole Lukic
2023 \|12 \|12 \|0 \|0 \|60 \|4 \|36 \|bgcolor=#b3b7ff\|1st, Heartland \|Conference Final \|{{flagicon\|USA}} Maya Hansen \|12
2024 \|12 \|10 \|0 \|2 \|61 \|6 \|32 \|bgcolor=#b3b7ff\|1st, Heartland \|First Round \|{{flagicon\|USA}} Katie Duong \|9 \|{{flagicon\|USA}} Colette Montgomery

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Season

! colspan=8 class="unsortable" |USL W League

! scope="col" rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Playoffs

! scope="col" colspan="2" class="unsortable" | Top Scorer

! scope="col" rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Head Coach

!{{tooltip|W|Games won}}

!{{tooltip|L|Games lost}}

!{{tooltip|D|Games drawn}}

!{{tooltip|GF|Goals for}}

!{{tooltip|GA|Goals against}}

!{{tooltip|Pts|Points}}

!{{tooltip|Pos|Position}}

! class="unsortable" | Player

! class="unsortable" | Goals

2022

|12

|11

|35

|34

|bgcolor=#b3b7ff|1st, Heartland

|bgcolor=silver|League Final

|{{flagicon|USA}} Morgan Turner

|rowspan=2|{{flagicon|USA}} Nicole Lukic

2023

|12

|60

|36

|bgcolor=#b3b7ff|1st, Heartland

|Conference Final

|{{flagicon|USA}} Maya Hansen

|12

2024

|12

|10

|61

|32

|bgcolor=#b3b7ff|1st, Heartland

|First Round

|{{flagicon|USA}} Katie Duong

|{{flagicon|USA}} Colette Montgomery

=Head coaches=

Includes Regular Season and Playoffs. Excludes friendlies.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin-left: lem;"

! Coach !! Nationality !! Start !! End !! Games !! Win !! Loss !! Draw !! Win %

Nicole Lukic

| {{USA}}

| {{dts|2021|10|16}}

| present

{{WDL|42|36|3|3

}

Honors

USL W League
Regular Season Champions: 2022, 2023
Heartland Division Champions: 2022, 2023, 2024

=Player honors=

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Player

!Country

!Position

!Honor

rowspan=4|2022

|Kenzie Langdok

|{{flagicon|USA}} United States

|Defender

|All-League First Team

Kelsey Kaufusi

|{{flagicon|USA}} United States

|Defender

|All-League Second Team

Sarah Fuller

|{{flagicon|USA}} United States

|Goalkeeper

|All-League Second Team

Addy Symonds

|{{flagicon|USA}} United States

|Midfielder

|Goal of the Year

References

External links

{{Official website|https://www.mnaurora.com/}}

Category:Soccer clubs in Minneapolis–Saint Paul

Category:Association football clubs established in 2021

Category:2021 establishments in Minnesota

Category:USL W League teams

Category:Women's sports in Minneapolis