Vancouver Rise FC Book Spot in NSL Final After Wild Penalty Shootout Win Over Ottawa

It was a thriller at TD Place on Saturday night, as Vancouver Rise FC edged Ottawa Rapid FC 5–4 on penalties after a 3–3 draw on aggregate to advance to the NSL Final presented by Toyota.

Rise came out swinging. Holly Ward nearly opened the scoring inside ten minutes, cutting in from the left and forcing Ottawa keeper Melissa Dagenais into an early save. Samantha Chang hit the post moments later off a clever corner routine, and Jessica De Filippo’s rebound was smothered by Dagenais. Ward stayed active, creating another chance shortly after, but her low shot skimmed just wide.

At the back, Jasmyne Spencer made a crucial sliding block in the 27th minute, but from the ensuing corner, Ottawa took the lead through D.B. Pridham’s header. Rise pushed for a quick reply — De Filippo and Spencer both had decent looks — but couldn’t find the target. Ward kept pressing with dangerous runs down the left, yet the equalizer didn’t come before halftime.

Down on aggregate, Rise came out determined in the second half. Latifah Abdu almost leveled early after a clever flick from De Filippo, but her shot went straight at Dagenais. Ottawa then struck again in the 51st minute through Melanie Forbes, swinging the tie in their favor. Dagenais stayed busy, denying De Filippo on a deflected shot and later stopping Abdu’s free-kick effort that was ruled offside anyway.

Rise kept pushing and were finally rewarded in the 85th minute. Mariah Lee whipped in a perfect cross from the right, and Ward rose above the defense to head home the crucial equalizer, making it 3–3 on aggregate. She nearly gave Rise the lead again minutes later, but Dagenais was there to stop her once more.

With the score level after 90 minutes, the match headed into extra time. Ward came close again with a curling effort that missed by inches, while Pridham rattled the crossbar for Ottawa. Both sides traded chances — De Filippo was denied by another big Dagenais save — but neither could find the winner.

It all came down to penalties. After Rise missed their opening kick, goalkeeper Morgan McAslan turned hero, making two huge saves to swing momentum back Vancouver’s way. Sofia Hagman then stepped up and buried the decisive spot kick, sealing Rise FC’s dramatic win and sending them to the NSL Final.

Vancouver Rise FC now move on to face their next challenge in the NSL Finals presented by Toyota next Saturday, November 15, in Toronto. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. ET.