New Aurora coach prepares for home opener as women’s sports take center stage

The Minnesota Aurora FC is gearing up for their highly anticipated home opener on Thursday night, with a new head coach and sporting director at the helm. Colette Montgomery, a longtime fixture in the local soccer community, is leading the pre-professional team as they take on RKC Third Coast at TCO Stadium at 7 p.m.

Montgomery, who has been in Minnesota for about 20 years, expressed her excitement about being part of the thriving women’s sports market in the state. With the recent success of the Professional Women’s Hockey team clinching the Walter Cup championship and the increased attention on women’s basketball, Montgomery believes the time is ripe for women’s sports to shine.

The Aurora, who have remained undefeated in regular season games since the USL W League’s founding in 2022, are looking to continue their winning streak under Montgomery’s leadership. With a focus on organized defense and relentless offense, the team is aiming to entertain the crowd and score plenty of goals.

Montgomery’s coaching style emphasizes collaboration and empowerment, creating a positive environment for the young women on the team to thrive both on and off the field. The Aurora also added a second team, Aurora 2, in the United Premier Soccer League last year to nurture young talent and provide opportunities for growth.

As the Aurora prepare to take on their opponents in the home opener, Montgomery is focused on seeing her players grow and develop, not just as athletes, but as individuals. With a strong foundation laid by former coach Nicole Lukic, Montgomery is ready to lead the team to victory and continue to showcase the talent and potential of women in sports.