Minnesota Aurora FC might be a community-owned club, but over the past two matches, the team has shared the wealth on the field, too.
Four goal scorers found the back of the net in the Aurora’s 5-0 victory over Bavarian United SC on Thursday night at TCO Stadium. And the team’s last rout — Sunday’s 6-0 home victory over Chicago Dutch Lions FC — featured six players netting a goal. Now, 14 players have scored for Minnesota (7-0-2) this season.
“This team is so deep,” midfielder Katie Duong said. “We’ve been working on being more clinical in the final third a lot in practice, and I think that’s been translating the past couple of games.”
That’s especially key for a club that’s a pre-professional “pit stop” and “pathway,” said Aurora coach Colette Montgomery. With the timing of the playoffs in July, Aurora linchpins could miss playing time for trials with new pro teams. A diversified set of goal scorers provides a strategic, not just celebratory, advantage.
“If a player leaves this environment, we’ve helped them to get to where they go,” Montgomery said. “We know that we’ve got a large squad … and when the time is right, and they’re needed, they’re going to be able to step up.”
Coming off Sunday’s three-assist, one-goal performance, Duong continued her sharp form with two goals and two assists against Bavarian United (4-4-1). After three consecutive games scoring long-range strikes, Duong netted a close-range, 16th-minute shot after a run up the right side of the field by forward Saige Wimes.
But the 5,225 fans in attendance wouldn’t go home without a Duong long-distance shot; she curled one into the far post in the 77th minute to put Minnesota up 5-0.
“I’m just starting to find my rhythm and my rhythm with the team as well,” Duong said. Montgomery pointed out the team has been together for only 44 days total.
