Sport Photos
NSL Vancouver Rise FC vs Ottawa Rapid FC
VANCOUVER, BC, JULY 24, 2025 – It was a blockbuster match at Swangard Stadium, as Vancouver Rise FC were held to a 3-3 draw after a late equalizer from Ottawa Rapid FC.
The match began with both teams scoring early on. D.B Pridham scored for Rapid FC in the 14th minute, taking a second bite of the cherry after a good save from Rise FC ‘keeper Kirstin Tynan. Not to be outdone, Quinn scored for Rise FC just two minutes later, whipping a curling effort into the far corner after a Holly Ward pass to level the scoreline.
Rapid FC then took back the lead through Choo Hyojoo in the 22nd minute, putting the pressure back on Rise FC. Holly Ward kept being dangerous as the game wore on, dribbling into the box and putting in some threatening crosses. Jessica De Filippo nearly got Rise FC back level after a thumping shot from just inside the box, but Rapid FC ‘keeper Melissa Dagenais did well to get a hold of it.
Jasmyne Spencer almost went for the audacious after she volleyed a loose clearance from outside the box, but her well-struck shot kept on rising. After all that pressure, Rise FC did end up getting that equalizer through Lisa Pechersky in the 39th minute. Pechersky capitalized on a mistake at the back after Samantha Chang won it up high, and rolled it past Dagenais and into the back of the net to make it 2-2.
After a goal-frenzied first half, both sides went into the break with the match in a dead heat.
Rise FC started the second half hot, immediately putting Rapid FC under pressure in the opening moments. Tynan made another great save in the 55th minute of the match, collecting a looping deflected shot from range to keep the team on par. Rise FC then took the lead through Holly Ward, who took on a Yuka Okamoto pass inside the box, cut inside and drilled it past Dagenais to make it 3-2.
Ward almost got her second of the match after latching onto a loose clearance in the box, but her powerful shot went just wide of the near post. Mariah Lee had a chance with less than 25 minutes to go, after meeting a Ward cross with a header but the shot falling right into Dagenais’ hands. Pechersky then nearly made it 4-2 in the 78th minute, blasting a shot from 25 yards out that just skimmed the top of the crossbar.
Rise FC fought hard to preserve their lead, but right at the death, Rapid FC got a last-gasp equalizer through Kayla Adamek, meaning both teams would go away from the match with the share of the spoils.
Rise FC are back in action on August 9th as they travel once more to Nova Scotia to face Halifax Tides FC. Kick-off is at 3pm PT. Rise FC then travel Ontario for a double header, facing AFC Toronto on Sunday, August 17th at 4pm PT before clashing against Rapid FC once more on Sunday, August 24th at 11am PT. The team then comes back home to Swangard Stadium on August 30th to host Montréal Roses FC. Kick-off for that one is at 7pm PT.
Check out our favourite photos of the game below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
All Photo Credit: Aly Mae
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