The Vancouver Rise have secured a spot in the inaugural Northern Super League Final by triumphing over the Ottawa Rapid in a shootout on Saturday. Sofia Hagman’s crucial penalty kick in the sixth round sealed the victory for Vancouver after Ottawa’s Julia Benati missed her spot-kick against Rise goalkeeper Morgan McAslan.
McAslan’s stellar performance included saving a penalty from Susanne Haaland in the fifth round, keeping Vancouver’s hopes alive. Later, Latifah Abdu’s successful penalty maintained Vancouver’s momentum, setting the stage for Hagman’s decisive goal.
Ottawa initially took the lead in the match with goals from Delaney Baie Pridham and Melanie Forbes, leading 2-0 in the game and 3-2 on aggregate. However, Holly Ward’s 85th-minute goal for Vancouver leveled the score, forcing extra time.
Rapid’s coach, Katrine Pederson, expressed pride and disappointment after the intense game, acknowledging the bittersweet nature of football and praising her team’s effort and performance.
In the second leg at TD Place Stadium, Vancouver, who had a 2-1 advantage from the first leg, dominated possession, shots on target, and accurate passes compared to Ottawa. With their spot in the NSL Final secured, Vancouver will face the winner of the AFC Toronto versus Montreal Roses semifinal.
Desiree Scott, Rapid’s captain, announced her retirement post-match, with 3,068 fans in attendance. The Rise’s journey to the final will be on display on November 15, as they await their opponent from the remaining playoff fixture.