USL W LEAGUE: Wimes’ late goal lifts Minnesota Aurora past King’s Hammer and into Final Four
- Dan Stickradt
- Jul 7
- 2 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
PITTSBURGH – Sometimes soccer can be like a chess match.
Patiently waiting for each team to make a move until something big happens.
With time running out on regulation Sunday night, the Minnesota Aurora finally called check mate when Saige Wimes scored the only goal in the 88th minute and the Aurora held on for a 1-0 triumph over Cincinnati-based King’s Hammer in the USL W League-Central Conference finals at Pittsburgh’s Highmark Stadium.
Unbeaten Minnesota Aurora moved to 12-0-2 on the season and during its fourth consecutive postseason advanced to the USL W League Final Four next weekend against Utah United. It will be the second semifinals appearance for Minnesota, which finished as the national runner-up back in 2022 during the league’s first season.
After outshooting King’s Hammer 5-4 in the first half without having a single shot on frame during the first 45 minutes, Minnesota really applied consistent pressure on the King’s Hammer side of the field during the second half.
The Aurora finished with a 13-7 shots advantage in the game and held a 9-4 edge off cornerkicks. Minnesota finally broke open the stalemate when the Aurora scored on their third and final shot on target in the 88th minute.
Mariah Nguyen placed a perfectly-slotted pass between two defenders and Saige Wimes quickly got behind the defense for a breakaway and uncorked a high shot from 16 yards out that sailed up near the left goal post for the game’s only goal.
King’s Hammer, which held a 6-3 edge with shots on goal, applied some late pressure trying desperately to net an equalizer but time ran out on clock and on King’s Hammer’s season.
Minnesota’s Taylor Kane made six saves to record her team’s 10th shutout of the season and help lower her team’s stellar goals-against-average down to a paltry 0.29. Minnesota holds a 32-4 overall scoring edge this season through 14 matches and has not allowed a goal in two postseason matches.
It was the first and only loss of the season for King’s Hammer, which finishes 8-1-3 overall. The side did outscore its opposition 40-12 this season and averaged 3.34 goals-per-game but just couldn’t score upon Minnesota’s stingy defense – one of the best in the entire USL W League.
After defeating Detroit City FC 2-1 in the Central Conference semifinals Friday, this was the furthest the club has advanced in the USL W League national tournament.
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