Sport Photos
NSL Vancouver Rise FC Fall 1-0 to Halifax Tides FC at Swangard Stadium
Vancouver Rise FC came up just short on a cloudy Saturday afternoon at Swangard Stadium, falling 1-0 to Halifax Tides FC after an own goal proved to be the difference. The match was played under overcast skies with a bit of rain coming and going throughout the afternoon.
Before kickoff, Rise FC took a moment to celebrate inaugural NSL champion Mariah Lee, who played her final game with the club. Lee announced earlier this week that she is retiring from soccer and will be attending NYU School of Law to pursue a career in law.
Once the match got underway, Halifax came out with early pressure and forced Rise FC into some defending. Goalkeeper Morgan McAslan was ready for the challenge, making several smart saves in the opening minutes to keep the game scoreless.
Rise FC began to settle into the match after the first 10 minutes. Anaïs Oularbi sent a dangerous free-kick cross into the box, with Jessica De Filippo nearly getting a touch on it before an outstretched heel from Tides FC goalkeeper Anika Toth kept the ball out.
Five minutes later, Tori Tumeth came close from a corner-kick routine. Quinn curled a cross toward the back post for the defender, but Tumeth’s header came from a tight angle and went straight into the hands of Toth.
Camila Reyes had two chances of her own. Her first came from a free kick just outside the box, with her shot taking a deflection off the wall and going behind for a corner. Around the 25th minute, a loose ball fell to Reyes at the edge of the area, but her left-footed half-volley sailed over the crossbar.
The two sides continued to trade attacks as the first half progressed, with neither defence giving the other much room to work.
Rise FC nearly forced the game’s opening goal late in the half. A slick team move found Jaime Perrault on the right side of the box, where the winger beat her marker before driving a cross into the penalty area. A Tides FC defender got a touch to the ball and sent it just over the crossbar.
The first half ended scoreless, with both sides still searching for a breakthrough.
Rise FC came out with purpose after the break. De Filippo nearly redirected a cross from Anna Bout, but her header skimmed just past the near post.
The game’s only goal came soon after, though it was an unfortunate one for Rise FC. A Tides FC corner was whipped into the box and De Filippo got the final touch, inadvertently redirecting the ball into her own net to give Halifax a 1-0 lead.
Rise FC responded by pushing players forward in search of an equalizer. Substitute Racquel Partovi nearly found it in the 80th minute, cutting inside from the left before curling a shot toward the top corner. Toth came up with a big save to keep Halifax in front.
Partovi came close again in the dying minutes, sending a diving effort agonizingly wide of the post. De Filippo then had another opportunity, heading a ball into the side netting as Rise FC continued to press.
The late chances weren’t enough, though, as Halifax held on for all three points. Rise FC had several opportunities to get back into the match but couldn’t find the finishing touch they needed.
Vancouver will have little time to dwell on the result, with Montreal Roses FC coming to Swangard Stadium on Wednesday, July 29. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT. Tickets are available here.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
NSL VANCOUVER RISE FC V HALIFAX TIDES FC
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Sport Photos
NSL Vancouver Rise Boost Playoff Hopes with Victory Over Calgary Wild
Vancouver Rise FC have ended their season on a high note and improved their chances of
reaching the playoffs after defeating Calgary Wild FC 3-2 at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, BC. The Rise delivered under pressure thanks to a beautiful goal from Mia Pante as well as a much-needed second-half strike from Jessica DeFilippo.
The Rise marked the scoresheet twice in the first half, leading the Wild 2 to nil at the 35-minute mark after Alex Lamontagne connected with Pante who cleared the goalkeeper and calmly hit the back of the net.
Calgary responded before halftime, however, as Josie Aulicino found the net with a strike from outside the penalty area, cutting the deficit to 2-1 and keeping halting what at times looked like a runaway train.
Calgary largely dominated the second half, forcing Vancouver onto their back feet. Vancouver was pinned in their own zone, unwillingly defending their lead as Calgary took shot after shot on goal. A quiet crowd got to their feet for their Captain Shannon Woeller who made her first appearance of the season in the 88-minute mark, leaving the bench to steady the team in the final few minutes.
Despite the early charge, Vancouver managed to record the win and take the points, if in a
somewhat anxiety-filled final 45. The three points keep the Rise in the playoff conversation, with the final result to be decided Monday as Halifax faces off against AFC Toronto.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
VANCOUVER RISE FC v CALGARY WILD FC
All Photo Credit: Jason Martin
Sport Photos
WWE Monday Night Raw Keeps the Momentum Rolling in Ottawa
WWE Monday Night Raw rolled into Ottawa on August 24 with plenty of moving pieces and a clear focus on building toward the next major chapters for both the men’s and women’s divisions. From LA Knight’s confrontation with Roman Reigns to Stephanie Vaquer’s return, a World Heavyweight Championship tournament, and a heated Oba Femi-Bron Breakker contract signing, the episode packed a lot into three hours without losing sight of its bigger stories.
This was a busy, storyline-heavy episode built almost entirely around momentum heading toward Sunday Night’s Main Event on September 6. LA Knight opened the show by calling out World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns, only for Solo Sikoa to interrupt and thank Knight for backing him up the previous week, before the Usos showed up and set a tag match in motion for later in the night. That opening angle paid off with a hard-hitting brawl, and the show closed with Knight, Sikoa, and both Usos left laid out while returning duo Royce Keys and OTM stood tall over the wreckage.
In the ring, the standout was Stephanie Vaquer‘s return match against Roxanne Perez, which saw Judgment Day interference from Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez met by a counter from Becky Lynch. Vaquer sealed the win by dodging a moonsault and connecting with a butterfly backbreaker into a lungblower combo, and the post-match staredown with Lynch added a nice extra layer of tension. It fed directly into the next chapter of her title chase, with Vaquer told backstage that she’ll get her shot at Liv Morgan‘s Women’s World Championship on the September 7 RAW.
The tournament for a World Heavyweight Championship shot also moved forward, with Penta defeating LA Parka and Rey Fenix defeating Dragon Lee to set up a Penta-vs-Fenix final. The Penta/Parka match got a nice reaction, as Parka survived a Penta Driver and answered with a top-rope Spanish Fly before Penta eventually got the win.
The other big story beat was the contract signing for Oba Femi vs. Bron Breakker. Breakker accused Femi of taking the spot he used to hold and vowed to make him live in his shadow, while Femi shot back that Breakker could’ve been the future of WWE in a different era, just not while he’s around. The segment boiled over into a physical confrontation, with Breakker jumping Femi before Austin Theory got involved, and Femi eventually powering back to put Theory through a table.
Overall, this felt like a well-paced go-home-style episode even though the pay-per-view is still two weeks out: hot angles up top and at the close, a satisfying tournament advancement, and a women’s division storyline that’s clearly building toward something bigger
Check out our favourite photos of both Monday Night Raw and Smackdown below or head to our Facebook page for the full galleries: Raw – Smackdown
WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW
All Photo Credit: Kieran Delport