PITTSBURGH (July 5, 2026) — The Pittsburgh Riveters’ season came to an end in heartbreaking fashion after Gracie Dunaway scored in stoppage time to give top-seeded Minnesota Aurora FC a 2-1 win in the USL W League Central Conference Final tonight at F.N.B. Stadium.
Flavie Dubé scored to put Aurora (14-0-0) ahead in the first half, but Ellen Molloy tied the match before halftime with a spectacular long-range free kick for the Riveters (10-1-1), the No. 2 seed in the Central. The goal was only the second allowed all season by the Aurora.
The loss ends the Riveters’ second season of play as one of the final eight teams left in the W League Playoffs, each time falling to the Aurora.
First half
Having met a round earlier in the playoffs a year ago, both teams started out cautiously. Molloy took an early long-range effort that curled over the bar, and Aurora leading scoring Ai Kitagawa forced a save from Riveters goalie Lexi Grundler — one of four in the match — with a chest-high shot on goal.
The Aurora took the lead in the 18th minute when Dubé worked a give-and-go in the box with Jeannette Fieldsend. Dubé’s run off the back shoulder of her defender was timed perfectly, and she finished from 8 yards out for the early lead.
Molloy nearly tied the match in the 26th minute when she displayed excellent control to bring in a pass from Bella Vozar, but her shot from inside the box struck the crossbar and caromed away.
But there was no mistake by Molloy when she teed up a free kick in the 37th minute positioned just inside 30 yards from goal on the right. Her left-footed shot picked out the top left corner of the goal, squeezing between the goalkeeper’s hand and the crossbar to make it 1-1.
Second half
The Riveters started the second 45 on the front foot, and Sabrina Bryan forced an early save by Taylor Fox after receiving a pass into the box from Anna Korney.
Taylor Green had another near miss for the Riveters from a corner kick in the 72nd minute. The center back struck the ball cleanly but didn’t have enough of an angle to turn the ball on target, instead hitting the side netting.
The Aurora also had some dangerous chances from set pieces, and Grundler was sharp to make a low stop on a headed shot by Skye Leach in the 79th minute.
The match appeared to be headed toward extra time with only two minutes of stoppage time displayed. But as time ticked into a third minute, the Aurora found the breakthrough when Dubé made a move into the right side of the box before finding Dunaway for a one-touch redirect at the top of the 6-yard box.
The Riveters had time for one more foray forward, but the Aurora defense cleared to end the match and retain the Central Conference title.
Hitachi Player of the Match
Ellen Molloy equalized with a stunning free kick, but her contributions in midfield as a passer and defender were just as important in a tightly played match. The Irish international’s season with the Riveters ends with four goals and three assists to her name.
Riveters SC lineup (4-3-3) — Lexi Grundler; Brielle LaBerge, Piper Coffield, Taylor Green, Bella Vozar; Ellen Molloy, Emme Butera, Tanum Nelson (Gabby Lamparty 68’); Sabrina Bryan (Emily Hanrahan 76’), Anna Korney, Makenna Dominguez (Gabby Beinecke 76’)
Minnesota Aurora FC lineup (4-2-4) — Taylor Fox; Kyra Karfonta, Olivia Albert, Haylee Mersereau, Gracie Dunaway; Skye Leach, Hannah Boughton; Flavie Dubé, Jeanette Fieldsend (Hadli Barrera 56’), Thalia Morisi (Olivia Rush 84’), Ai Kitagawa (Jelena Zbiljic 90+3’)
Scoring summary
MIN — Flavie Dubé 18’ (Jeanette Fieldsend)
PIT — Ellen Molloy 37’
MIN — Gracie Dunaway 90+3’ (Flavie Dubé)
Discipline summary
None
