NSL Vancouver Rise FC vs Calgary Wild FC

Vancouver Rise FC lit up Swangard Stadium on Saturday afternoon, putting six past Calgary Wild FC to stretch their unbeaten run to eight straight matches.

The home side looked dangerous from the start. Jessica De Filippo nearly opened the scoring early with a header over the bar, but the breakthrough came in the 15th minute. Pressing high, De Filippo forced a mistake from Calgary goalkeeper Stephanie Bukoveć, allowing Latifah Abdu to pounce and slot the ball into an empty net.

Rise nearly doubled the lead soon after through Holly Ward, whose shot was deflected into Lisa Pechersky’s path, but Bukoveć managed to deny her follow-up. Calgary’s Jorian Baucom came close to equalizing on the counter, only for Rise keeper Morgan McAslan to shut the door with a sharp save.

Ward thought she had made it 2-0 in stoppage time, but her effort rattled the post. Moments later, De Filippo made amends with the goal of the night, punishing a loose back pass from 35 yards out by lobbing Bukoveć to give Rise a two-goal cushion at the half.

Halftime featured a special moment off the pitch as the club introduced new signing Jaimie Perrault to the home crowd. Excitement then turned to waiting, as the start of the second half was pushed back 15 minutes because of lightning in the area. The delay did nothing to cool Vancouver’s momentum once play resumed.

The second half was all Vancouver. Abdu struck again in the 54th minute after a strong run and cutback from Ward. McAslan then made a brilliant double save to protect the lead before Quinn coolly converted a penalty in the 66th minute to make it 4-0.

From there, the floodgates opened. Mariah Lee powered home from a Quinn corner in the 72nd minute, and Pechersky curled in a stunning strike six minutes later to cap the scoring at 6-0. Rise nearly had a seventh late on, but Bukoveć stopped Anna Bout’s breakaway, and Ward’s follow-up trickled just wide.

The emphatic win mirrored a previous 6-0 scoreline for Rise FC and showed once again why they’re one of the league’s most dangerous sides.

Vancouver now turn their attention to a top-of-the-table clash against first-place AFC Toronto on September 13th. Kickoff is at 11 a.m. PT. Rise then return home on September 20th to host Ottawa Rapid FC in their Fan Appreciation Match at Swangard Stadium. More info on the team’s website.

Check our our favourite photos of the game or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!

All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer