USL W LEAGUE: Minnesota Aurora ends Pittsburgh Riveters inaugural season in Round of 16 with 2-0 shutout win
- Dan Stickradt
- Jul 5
- 3 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
PITTSBURGH — A history-making first season for the Pittsburgh Riveters came to an end this afternoon in the USL W League Central Conference Semifinals after top-seeded Minnesota Aurora FC came away with a 2-0 win at Highmark Stadium.
The Minnesota Aurora have made the USL W League postseason all four years, advancing to the USL W League National Championship in 2022 and finishing as the runner-up to go along with losing in the Central Conference finals in 2023 and Central Conference semifinals in 2024.
Saige Wimes and Natalie Tavana scored for the Aurora (11-0-2), who advance to face Cincinnati-based and second-seeded Kings Hammer FC in the conference final, 7 p.m. Sunday at Highmark Stadium.
Minnesota goalkeeper Taylor Kane earned the shutout for her side, which advance to the quarterfinals for the third time in four seasons.
Pittsburgh Goalkeeper Caitlyn Thompson made nine saves in her Riveters First Team debut with the Riveters (6-2-3), who were beaten at home for the first time in their inaugural season.
The Aurora, a team that has been in the playoffs four straight seasons, came out on the right foot and attacked early. Their early efforts were off target until a 20th-minute shot driven toward goal by Summer Diamond, forcing Thompson to tip the ball over the bar for her first save.
The Riveters pushed back with one of their best chances shortly afterward. Lucia Wells got free on the right side and sent a low pass to the front of goal for Anna Korney. The Aurora defense collapsed around Korney to keep her from turning to shoot, and the ball worked its way back to Jayden Sharpless, whose effort from outside of the box went wide.
Thompson made two more saves before the break, but in the 43rd minute, the Aurora pulled ahead.
Charly Boone played a long ball forward to Catherine Rapp in the penalty area, and Rapp played the ball across to a wide-open Wimes for the finish.
Shaking off the disappointment of conceding late in the first half, the Riveters got back into the flow of things for a more evenly played start to the second half, but chances were scarce for both teams until Thompson was forced to turn away a shot by Evelyn Calhoon in the 62nd minute.
In the 72nd minute, the Aurora won a free kick just outside of the box and to the left of goal. That set up their top scorer, Tavana, who made no mistake putting the shot into the right side of the net for a 2-0 lead.
The Riveters kept pushing forward and had chances late, including from an Abi Hugh corner kick that led to a collision between Gina Proviano and Aurora goalkeeper Taylor Kane, who held onto the ball and finished with the clean sheet.
In stoppage time, 15-year-old Pittsburgh Riveters Academy product Gabby Beineke — also making her Riveters debut — was played into the box behind the defense, but a sliding challenge by retreating defender Elizabeth Overberg was deemed fair by the referee, ending the match.
BOX SCORE
Riveters SC lineup (4-2-2-2) — Caitlyn Thompson; Sydney Lindeman (Lilly Bane 46’, Mackenzie Dupre 88’), Natalia DiSora, Piper Coffield, Bella Vozar; Kate Friday (Kelsey Salopek 73’), Jayden Sharpless (Gina Proviano 46’); Abi Hugh (Annalyse Bauer 88’), Lucia Wells (Minah Syam 64’); Anna Korney, Sabrina Bryan (Gabby Beineke 73’)
Minnesota Aurora FC lineup (4-3-3) — Taylor Kane; Camber Hayes, Elizabeth Overberg, Austin Miller (Helen Schaefer 82’), Annie Williams (Elizabeth Rapp 57’); Charley Boone, Summer Diamond; Natalie Tavana (Jelena Zbiljic 82’), Catherine Rapp (Kunie Hirai 82’), Evelyn Calhoon (Rami Rapp 69’); Saige Wimes (Mariah Nguyen 57’)
Scoring summary
MIN — Saige Wimes 43’ (Catherine Rapp)
MIN — Natalie Tavana 73’
Discipline summary
PIT — Assistant coach Mike Proviano 58’ (caution – dissent)
PIT — Sabrina Bryan 63’ (caution – reckless foul)
PIT — Gina Proviano 72’ (caution – dissent)
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