The Vancouver Rise team secured a spot in the first-ever Northern Super League Final by defeating the Ottawa Rapid in a penalty shootout on Saturday. Sofia Hagman’s successful penalty kick in the sixth round sealed the victory for Vancouver, as Ottawa’s Julia Benati missed her spot kick earlier. This marked goalkeeper Morgan McAslan’s second crucial save of the shootout, having also denied Susanne Haaland’s attempt. Latifah Abdu’s subsequent penalty goal kept Vancouver in contention, leading to McAslan’s heroics and Hagman’s decisive goal.
Ottawa initially took the lead with goals from Delaney Baie Pridham and Melanie Forbes, going 2-0 ahead in the match and 3-2 on aggregate. However, Holly Ward’s late goal for Vancouver leveled the scores, forcing extra time. Despite the intense match, Ottawa’s head coach, Katrine Pederson, expressed mixed emotions, acknowledging the team’s strong performance despite the heartbreaking loss.
In the second leg, Vancouver dominated with more possession, shots on target, and accurate passes compared to Ottawa. With a place secured in the final on November 15, the Rise will face the winner of the AFC Toronto vs. Montreal Roses semifinal. Toronto currently leads 2-0 on aggregate, courtesy of goals from Nikayla Small and Kaylee Hunter in the first leg. Following the match, Rapid’s captain, Desiree Scott, announced her retirement. The game drew a crowd of 3,068 spectators.
The Rise’s journey to the final showcased their resilience and determination, setting the stage for an exciting showdown in the upcoming championship match.
