Vancouver Rise FC Claim Historic First Playoff Win with 2–1 Victory Over Ottawa Rapid FC

It was a big night at Swangard Stadium on Tuesday as Vancouver Rise FC made club history, earning their first-ever playoff win with a 2–1 victory over Ottawa Rapid FC in the first leg of the NSL Playoff Semifinals presented by Toyota.

Rise came out flying from kickoff. Samantha Chang and Jessica De Filippo each tested Ottawa’s backline early, while Holly Ward nearly struck first after breaking through on the left, but her shot slipped under goalkeeper Melissa Dagenais and rolled just wide. At the other end, Jasmyne Spencer came up with a huge defensive stop, throwing herself into a tackle to block a dangerous chance in the 11th minute.

The breakthrough came in the 15th minute when Latifah Abdu pounced on a loose pass from the Rapid FC defense and slotted home to make it 1–0. She doubled the lead just six minutes later, finishing off a perfect early cross from De Filippo with a sharp turn and strike inside the box. With a 2–0 cushion, Rise settled in and dictated the pace, looking confident in possession.

Spencer nearly added another before halftime with a long-range effort that forced Dagenais into a diving save, and Ward came close again with a diving attempt that sailed just over the bar.

The second half saw more of the same as Rise continued to press for a third. Abdu almost completed her hat trick after another crafty run from De Filippo through midfield, but her left-footed shot went just wide. Ward kept testing Ottawa’s keeper, driving low efforts toward goal, but Dagenais stood tall.

Ottawa pulled one back in the 68th minute when D.B. Pridham cut inside from the right and fired a shot inside the near post to make it 2–1. The goal gave Rapid FC a late spark, but Rise’s defense held strong under pressure. Spencer again came up clutch with a last-ditch tackle to deny a breakaway, helping preserve the lead.

In the final minutes, Rise cleared everything that came their way and saw out the win — a gritty, historic result that puts them in control heading into the second leg in Ottawa on Saturday, November 8 at 12 p.m. PT.