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Winnipeg Free Press
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canada scores four late goals to defeat Costa Rica 4-1 in women's soccer friendly
TORONTO – Late goals by Shelina Zadorsky, Holly Ward, Zara Chavoshi and Emma Regan helped Canada to a 4-1 comeback win over a resolute Costa Rica in an international women's friendly Friday. The goals came in the 70th, 74th, 82nd and 86th minute as the eighth-ranked Canadians finally found an answer for No. 43 Costa Rica. A small but enthusiastic crowd cheered Canada on at BMO Field. But while the Canadian women had 81 per cent possession in the first half, they were unable to unlock the Costa Rican defence and went into the break trailing 1-0. Some desperate Costa Rican defending and errant Canadian attacking kept it that way until the 70th minute when Zadorsky, from the penalty spot, ended the Canada misfiring. It was goal No. 7 in 112 appearances for the veteran centre back. Substitute Mimi Alidou won the penalty, taken down by Costa Rican defender Fabiola Villalobos. Ward made it 2-1 in the 74th minute, turning and curling in a lovely shot after fellow substitute Annabelle Chukwu, an 18-year-old Canadian youth international star in her first senior appearance, headed a Jade Rose cross her way It was a second goal in three appearances for Ward, a 21-year-old Vancouver Rise forward who became the first Northern Super League player to score for Canada — in the 3-1 win over Haiti on June 3 in Montreal. Chavoshi made it 3-0 in the 82nd minute, heading home a corner for her first Canada goal in her second appearance. Regan's first international goal, an elegant shot from just outside the penalty box, padded the lead in the 86th minute The Canadians now head to Washington, D.C., for a high-profile friendly with the top-ranked U.S. on Wednesday. Costa Rica's Maria Paula Salas opened the scoring against the run of play in the 27th minute off a free kick. Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan failed to get a hand to the well-flighted delivery from captain Katherine Alvarado, allowing an unmarked Salas to head the ball home at the far post. Chavoshi committed the foul that led to the free kick, pulling back Priscila Chinchilla after the Costa Rican attacker nutmegged her just outside the Canadian penalty box. The goal prompted a Canadian team huddle in front of goal, one of several on the night. Canada had won all 17 previous meetings with Costa Rica, outscoring the Central Americans 52-6. But they needed a 104th-minute goal to win 1-0 the last time they met, in March 2024 in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF W Gold Cup in Los Angeles. Canada had blanked Costa Rica 3-0 in the group stage at the tournament. Prior to the game, coach Casey Stoney was quick to stress before the game that her players were not looking past the Central Americans to the U.S. 'There will be absolutely no complacency,' she said, noting Costa Rica had held the Americans to a scoreless draw last summer. Stoney was true to her word, fielding a strong lineup that included Sheridan, Zadorsky, Jessie Fleming, Ashley Lawrence, Adriana Leon, Evelyne Viens and Julia Grosso. In all, the starters had a combined 756 caps going into the game. It was 22 C, feeling like 26 C at kickoff at BMO Field. There were danger signs early as Alvarado banged a shot off the goalpost in the fourth minute. But Canada began to find its feet, backing up Costa Rica, which was playing in a 4-5-1 formation. Canada had its chances with Leon angling a shot just wide in the 33rd minute. Four minutes later, Costa Rican goalkeeper Noelia Bermúdez made a diving save to deny Grosso. Canada could have had three goals in first-half stoppage time with headers from Leon and Zadorsky and a Fleming shot all missing the target. Costa Rica lost midfielder Alexandra Pinell to an injury just before the break. Canada outshot Costa Rica 8-3 (3-2 in shots on target) in the first half. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Coming off a pair of wins over No. 50 Haiti, the Canadian women came into the game 5-1-1 under Stoney, whose first games in charge were at the Pinatar Cup in Spain in February. The lone loss was a 1-0 setback at the hands of No. 32 Argentina in April in Langford, B.C. The Canadians had defeated the South Americans 3-0 four days earlier in Vancouver. Canada was missing injured defenders Kadeisha Buchanan, Sydney Collins and Jayde Riviere, and forwards Olivia Smith and Cloé Lacasse. Friday's game was a special 'Pride Celebration' match, the third in as many years for the Canadian women who wore a special kit featuring Pride-themed numbers. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025
CBC
6 days ago
- Sport
- CBC
Vancouver Rise FC's winless streak continues in scoreless draw with Montreal Roses FC
Social Sharing Montreal Roses FC and Vancouver Rise FC played to a 0-0 draw in Northern Super League action on Sunday. Vancouver, which had its winless streak extended to four games (0-2-2), had 57 per cent of possession with 14 total shots, seven of which were on target. The Rise (3-4-3) have not won a game since May 21, a 2-1 victory over last-place Halifax Tides FC. Vancouver sits fifth in the standings of the six-team league. Montreal, meanwhile, came away with just one point having entered the matchup with a chance to take first place from AFC Toronto with a win. The Roses only had five total shots, with two on target, while Stephanie Hill, Alexandria Hess and Jodi Smith were all shown yellow cards. WATCH | Vancouver Rise and Montreal Roses play to scoreless draw: Morgan McAslan makes great save, Vancouver Rise and Montreal Roses play to a draw 26 minutes ago Duration 1:21 The Montreal Roses and Vancouver Rise play to a 0-0 draw, despite some good chances on both ends. Montreal (5-2-3) is riding a four-game unbeaten streak (2-0-2), having last lost to Toronto 2-0 on May 22.
CBC
12-06-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Nikayla Small scores in AFC Toronto win over Vancouver Rise
Nikayla Small scored the first goal of her Northern Super League career, helping AFC Toronto to a 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Rise on Wednesaday in Burnaby, B.C. Emma Regan got Toronto (4-3-1) on the board just two minutes into the game, and Kaylee Hunter put the visitors ahead 2-0 in the 42nd minute. Mariah Lee cut Vancouver's deficit to 2-1 with a goal in the 68th minute before Small scored in the 73rd. Rise midfielder Quinn converted a penalty kick in the eighth minute of injury time to seal the score at 3-2. WATCH | AFC Toronto holds on for victory over Vancouver Rise: AFC Toronto holds on for victory over Vancouver Rise 2 hours ago Duration 1:07 Vancouver (3-4-2) controlled 54 per cent possession across the game and outshot Toronto 13-8. The hosts also held a 4-3 edge in on-target shots. Toronto will look to carry the momentum from the win into Calgary, where they'll face the Wild on Saturday. The Rise are off until June 22 when they host the league-leading Montreal Roses.
The Province
06-06-2025
- Sport
- The Province
'I can't even believe it's real': Vancouver's Holly Ward a rising star for Canada, NSL
Ward became the first Northern Super League player to score for the national squad as the Canadian women downed Haiti 3-1 in a friendly. Published Jun 05, 2025 • Last updated 19 minutes ago • 4 minute read Vancouver Rise's Holly Ward (19) is tripped by Calgary Wild FC's Meikayla Moore (5) drawing a penalty shot during the first half of an NSL match in Vancouver on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. Photo by ETHAN CAIRNS / THE CANADIAN PRESS There have been a lot of firsts for Holly Ward this year — her first game as a professional soccer player, her first call up to Canada's senior women's team. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors And on Tuesday, Ward became the first Northern Super League player to score for the national squad as the Canadian women downed Haiti 3-1 in a friendly. Amid the whirlwind of monumental memories, the 21-year-old Vancouver Rise forward is trying to take life day by day. 'There have been so many big moments that have been happening for me,' she said. 'I set big goals for myself, but this is also my first year professionally and so I also want to develop a lot and get better. I think I'm doing that with the Rise, I'm doing that … wherever I am. I just want to become the best player I can be this year.' The big moments have come thick and fast for Ward. Her year started in Kentucky, where she joined National Women's Soccer League side Racing Louisville for pre-season training. While there, Ward realized there was something exciting brewing back in her hometown of Vancouver — the creation of the NSL, Canada's first professional women's soccer league. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Growing up, playing at home wasn't an option. 'My dreams were always to play in the NWSL or play in Europe. And those are still part of my dreams,' she said. 'But I didn't really think (a Canadian league) was going to be an option for me.' Canada's Holly Ward (28) tries to get by Haiti's Amandine Pierre-Louis (14) during first half international friendly soccer action in Montreal, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. Photo by Graham Hughes / The Canadian Press As more and more players signed on with NSL clubs, Ward found herself wanting to join, too. 'I was realizing that just wasn't something I wanted to miss,' she said. 'All the player signings, the staff that was there, the facilities that they have, just being a part of this new history making league, I was realizing, 'Oh, I need to be a part of this.'' In an airport somewhere between Louisville and Vancouver, Ward signed her first professional contract, inking a deal with her hometown team, the Rise. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Just a few months later, she was on the field for the NSL's first ever game, with countless friends and family members in the stands at B.C. Place. 'I was really nervous,' Ward said. 'I was like 'Oh my gosh, this is a lot of people, this means a lot to everyone, it means a lot to me. There's a lot riding on it.' 'But I think I kind of took it in a good way. I was like, 'This is such an amazing moment to be a part of and I'm just going to try and inspire people.'' In the 21st minute, Ward sprinted in with the ball and was cut down by Calgary Wild defender Meikayla Moore inside the area. Referee Marie-Soleil Beaudoin quickly signalled for a penalty kick. Canadian midfielder Quinn stepped up and sent a right-footed shot flying into the net for the first goal in NSL history. The Rise blanked the Wild 1-0. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Ward has continued to impress this season and earned her first call up to Canada's senior squad last month. She was sitting on the Rise bus when she learned the news. 'I feel like my brain just didn't understand it at first, because it's still so crazy for me,' she said of the moment. 'Any opportunity that I get to even train with the national team is a huge opportunity. I can't even believe it's real.' Calgary Wild FC's Grace Stordy, left, and Vancouver Rise's Holly Ward, right, vie for the ball during the first half of an NSL match in Vancouver on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. Photo by ETHAN CAIRNS / THE CANADIAN PRESS Being with the national team was 'a blur,' Ward said. She saw action in friendlies against Haiti in both Winnipeg and Montreal, and scored in Canada's 3-1 win on Tuesday. Asked to describe the goal after the game, Ward had yet another pinch-me moment when she realized who assisted on the strike. 'I was thinking 'This is so crazy, that Jessie Fleming just assisted me to score a goal when I've watched her since I was so young,'' she said. 'So that was a really cool moment.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Being part of the NSL has been surreal for Ward, who now plays alongside — and against — players she grew up idolizing. And each one is pushing toward a common goal. 'Every single person is working hard to make the team better and make the league better,' she said. Ward and the Rise (3-2-2) will return from the international break Saturday when they visit the Roses (3-2-2) in Montreal, and when she gets back on the field, she'll be looking to mark yet another milestone — her first NSL goal. She has two assists and six shots across seven games this season, but is still looking to find the back of the net. When she does, Ward imagines the feeling will be similar to what she experienced this week when she scored for Canada. 'Every person that scores is making history. It's the first year for the league. So I'll be excited,' she said. 'I also hope that whenever I score, it's helpful to my team in some way.' Read More
CTV News
04-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Vancouver Rise FC Academy learns its path at the 2025-26 CONCACAF W Champions Cup
Players of NJ/NY Gotham FC of the U.S. lift the trophy after winning the CONCACAF Women Champions Cup tournament at University stadium in Monterrey, Mexico, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Jorge Mendoza) The Vancouver Rise FC Academy was drawn with defending champion Gotham FC and fellow NWSL side Washington Spirit in Group B for the second edition of the CONCACAF W Champions Cup, which kicks off in August. Group B also includes Mexico's CF Monterrey Femenil and El Salvador's Alianza Women FC. Group A is comprised of Mexico's Club America and CF Pachuca Femenil, NWSL champion Orlando Pride, Costa Rica's LD Alajuelense and Panama's FC Chorrillo. The group stage, to run from August to October, will see each team play two home and two away games. The top two from each group advance to the semifinals, set for May 2026. The 10-team tournament is the elite women's club competition in the region that covers North and Central America and the Caribbean. The winner qualifies for the 2027 FIFA Women's Champions Cup, an annual tournament featuring the champions of each confederation, and for the inaugural FIFA Women's Club World Cup, set to debut in 2028. Gotham, the 2023 NWSL champion, defeated Mexico's Tigres UANL 1-0 in the May 25 final of the inaugural edition of the tournament. As winner, Gotham qualifies for the 2028 FIFA Women's Club World Cup. The Vancouver Rise Academy, formerly Whitecaps Girls Elite FC, qualified virtue of winning the League1 Canada Inter-Provincial Championship — the same pathway it used for 2024-25 qualification. Whitecaps Girls Elite failed to reach the knockout rounds after finishing fourth in Group B at 1-3-0, outscored 16-2 after losses to Club America (7-0) and NWSL's Portland Thorns (6-0) and San Diego Wave (2-0) and a win over Panama's Sante Fe FC (2-1). The Northern Super League is currently in discussions with Canada Soccer and CONCACAF about the qualification process for future editions. Gotham was the highest-scoring team in the inaugural edition of the CONCACAF W Champions Cup with 25 goals. CF Monterrey won the 2024 Apertura title while Alianza Women won the 2024 Apertura and Clausura titles in El Salvador for a domestic four-peat. Tuesday's draw was conducted by Carlos Fernandez, CONCACAF's chief football competitions officer, and assisted by former Mexican footballer Desirée Monsiváis. This report by Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press was first published June 3, 2025.
