The Minnesota Aurora FC is gearing up for their highly anticipated home opener on Thursday night, with new head coach and sporting director Colette Montgomery at the helm. The pre-professional team will face off against RKC Third Coast at 7 p.m. at TCO Stadium, following the Professional Women’s Hockey team’s recent Walter Cup championship win and the surge in attention on professional women’s basketball.
Montgomery, who has been a fixture in the local soccer community for over 20 years, is excited to be a part of Minnesota’s thriving women’s sports scene. She is taking over the reins from former coach Nicole Lukic, who recently joined U.S. Soccer, and is focused on building upon the solid foundation laid by her predecessor.
With a strong emphasis on organized defense and relentless offense, Montgomery is determined to entertain the crowd and lead the Aurora to victory. The team remains undefeated in regular season games since the inception of the USL W League in 2022, with a successful start to this season against the Chicago Dutch Lions and River Light FC.
Montgomery’s coaching style emphasizes collaboration and empowerment, with a focus on developing not only soccer skills but also life skills in her players. The addition of a second team, Aurora 2, in the United Premier Soccer League last year further demonstrates her commitment to fostering young talent and helping them reach their full potential.
As the Aurora prepare to take the field on Thursday night, fans can expect an exciting and competitive game as the team looks to continue their winning streak and showcase the talent and dedication of women in sports.