Salmon Bay FC Advance to National Final, besting Minnesota Aurora in a penalty shootout

In a 2026 season that has already provided countless unforgettable moments at Interbay Stadium, Salmon Bay FC have done it again. A late game-tying penalty from Ui Kaaihue, even more shootout dramatics, and a redemption arc for Anna Menti culminated in the Coho ending Minnesota Aurora’s perfect season and advancing to the USL W League National Final.

Salmon Bay FC will host the national final on Saturday, July 18th at 5pm against an undefeated Vermont Green with a championship on the line.

The Salmon Sisters knew they would be up against it, with Minnesota coming into the match off the back of 14 straight wins, conceding only two goals along the way.

For the opening stages of the match, both squads showed their ability, holding up the ball calmly and vying for the advantage in possession. Neither team was able to find that advantage, with attacks on both ends not yielding clear-cut looks at net.

A rare mental lapse would gift Minnesota the opening goal. In the 26th minute, Elena Milam played a short pass to her centerback, Anna Menti. Menti, thinking the ball had gone over the endline for a goal kick, placed the ball on the edge of the six with her hand, prompting a whistle and a penalty kick. Ai Kitigawa would convert the unorthodox gift, and make it 1-0 Minnesota with 28 minutes gone.

Following the goal, Salmon Bay took the reins of the game, responding with a pair of chances from Morgan Manalili. First in the 32nd minute, Manalili dove for a header at the top of the six, making solid contact but putting it straight into the chest of Minnesota goalkeeper Taylor Fox. Just five minutes later Manalili would once again get a point-blank header saved, this time a redirect off of a free-kick.

Manalili put on a one-on-one dribbling clinic during the match, with the final chance of the first half coming when Manalili put her defender on the turf with a quick change of direction, but the Ui Kaaihue shot at the end of it was pulled wide to end the half with Aurora leading 1-0.

The second 45 was dominated by the hosts as they pushed to equalize, only allowing Minnesota out on a couple of counterattacks, pounding the Aurora defense with pressure.

Elena Milam was called into action for the first time in the 55th minute as Flavie Dube found herself behind the backline after a lofted through-ball. Milam got low to make a clutch leg save to keep it at 1-0.

Fox would deny a Manalili header for the third time in the 77th, as once again Morgan’s attempt was put right at the goalkeeper.

Salmon Bay’s lifeline would come in the 88th. During a 50-50 challenge between Taylor Fox and Jourdyn Curran, Fox would crash into the back of Curran, prompting a penalty kick and a chance to save the season. Ui Kaaihue would calmly step up and take that chance, blasting home a confident penalty to make it 1-1 at the stroke of 90 minutes.

There would be one more big moment in regular time, as a well-delivered free kick for Minnesota led to a point-blank catch save by Milam to send the game to extra time for the second time in a week.

In the 103rd minute, Flavie Dube committed a reckless sliding tackle on Kaya Singh, prompting the ref to give her a second yellow card, and her marching orders. Minnesota would play the remainder of the match with 10. Ui Kaaihue’s ensuing free kick was on frame, but tipped over by Fox.

Despite a flurry of late set-pieces, Salmon Bay could not find a winner, sending the game to a PK shootout.

Minnesota would shoot first, and just like against Colorado, Salmon Bay would take an early advantage as Olivia Albert’s pen was tipped by Milam onto the post.

Ui Kaiihue would naturally dispatch her second penalty of the night to make it 1-0.

Jelena Zbiljic, the club captain for Minnesota, responded with a calm penalty of her own.

Taylor Fox would have her moment immediately afterwards, denying Rachel Reitz to tie it back up at 1-1.

Minnesota retook the lead at 2-1, and up stepped the goalkeeper Elena Milam to try and play hero in a new way. In the goalkeeper vs goalkeeper matchup, Milam put her penalty high and wide to give Minnesota one foot in the national title.

Milam, with only a split second to collect herself following the miss, refocused, and came up big again, saving a shot from Angela Gutierrez to spare her own blushes.

Ameera Hussen shot fourth, her first penalty of 2026, and roofed the effort beyond Fox.

Fox would then step up to take a penalty in the fifth round, the second goalkeeper showdown of the shootout, and it would end the same way. Fox pulled her effort wide of the post, and set up Salmon Bay with a kick to win it.

The kick would serendipitously fall to Anna Menti, who’s mistake had led to Aurora’s lone goal of the match. None of that mattered to Menti, who’s shot took a touch off of Fox, but snuck in to complete the redemption arc and send Salmon Bay to the National Final.

Match Facts:

Across two penalty shootouts in the 2026 postseason, Salmon Bay FC have converted eight of 11 spot kicks.
Elena Milam has made four saves across 11 shootout spot kicks against her, with opponents converting just 6/11 attempts.
Ui Kaiihue has now scored all three of her penalties in the 2026 postseason, converting two tonight. She is 4/4 in 2026, including the regular season.
Anna Menti, who scored a penalty to keep the season alive against Colorado, won the PK shootout and has played every minute of the postseason.
Salmon Bay FC became just the third team to score against Minnesota in 2026, who set a league record with only three goals against them in 15 games this year.
The Coho have come from behind to win in multiple do-or-die games this year, having also done so to clinch the division title 2-1 vs Snohomish.

Scoring Recap:

28’ (MINN): Ai Kitagawa, Penalty

90’ (SBFC): Ui Kaaihue (6), Penalty

Starting 11:

Maya Loudd, Anna Menti, Morgan Manalili, Samiah Shell, Elena Milam, Alicia Barker, Rachel Reitz, Juju Barker, Ameera Hussen, Jourdyn Curran, Ui Kaaihue

Subs Used:

Caroline Studebaker, Mireya Gray, Kaya Singh, Kelis Barton

Written by Adam Race