Latest news with #LydiaBedford
CTV News
4 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Calgary's Wild FC downs Halifax Tides 3-2 in Northern Super League
A soccer ball with the Northern Super League logo sits on a table before a league news conference on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns) CALGARY — Calgary's Wild FC held off the Halifax Tides 3-2 on Thursday in the Northern Super League. Wild (3-2-2) scored three first-half goals before the winless Tides (0-5-1) countered with two late in the second. Calgary extended its undefeated run to four straight games with two wins and two draws in that span. Wild FC defeated the Tides 4-1 in Halifax on April 26 for Calgary's first NSL victory, and a week after the six-team NSL launched with the Vancouver Rise blanking Calgary 1-0. 'It was a similar story to the last time we played Halifax. We put the game to bed early and then we let them get a bit of momentum at the start of the second half, but this one maybe even more so,' said Wild coach Lydia Bedford. 'I give full credit to them. This league is very competitive. They showed that tonight putting two away in the second half.' The Wild's Taegan Stewart scored her first career NSL goal when the 17-year-old Calgarian drilled a right-foot shot from the centre box home in first-half extra time. 'It's been coming for a while. I had a couple of chances over the last couple of matches, but third time is a charm,' Stewart said. 'It was really exciting and now I'm wanting more.' She celebrated her first goal by hopping on the back of forward Christie Gray's back for a run down McMahon Stadium's pitch. Taegan's twin sister and Wild teammate Keelyn attended their high school graduation ceremony in the afternoon before heading to the pitch in the evening. 'It was a long, busy day – a pretty exciting day having graduated high school – but we made it work,' said Keelyn. 'It was even more exciting that we finally got to share the field together, so was a perfect way to end things off for us.' Added Bedford: 'T had her first start in the first Halifax game and for Kee, she has been pushing and pushing, knocking on my door for when those minutes are going to come. I'm just so proud of them both. To be 17 and to be stepping on the pitch as well as they are just shows all the work they have put in.' Jenaya Robertson of Delta, B.C., made it 2-0 for the hosts with a left-footed strike in the 41st minute. Australian defender Ally Green got Calgary's first-half scoring burst underway in the 23rd minute. Wild goalkeeper Stephanie Bukovec's bid for a third clean sheet in four games was foiled when Haligonian Saorla Miller and Japanese striker Megumi Nakamura scored in the 72nd and 76th minutes respectively for the Tides. Bukovec and Halifax keeper Erin McLeod, who has appeared in 119 games for the Canadian women's team, each made one save. Bukovec was the busier of the two women with 68 touches to McLeod's 36. Wild FC's next game is against AFC Toronto in Calgary on June 14. The Tides host Ottawa Rapid FC on June 10. Toronto versus Ottawa and Vancouver facing Montreal Roses FC is Saturday's NSL match lineup. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2025.
CBC
4 days ago
- Sport
- CBC
Calgary Wild FC edge Halifax Tides in Northern Super League
Social Sharing Calgary's Wild FC held off the Halifax Tides 3-2 on Thursday in the Northern Super League. Wild (3-2-2) scored three first-half goals before the winless Tides (0-5-1) countered with two late in the second. Calgary extended its undefeated run to four straight games with two wins and two draws in that span. Wild FC defeated the Tides 4-1 in Halifax on April 26 for Calgary's first NSL victory, and a week after the six-team NSL launched with the Vancouver Rise blanking Calgary 1-0. "It was a similar story to the last time we played Halifax. We put the game to bed early and then we let them get a bit of momentum at the start of the second half, but this one maybe even more so," said Wild coach Lydia Bedford. "I give full credit to them. This league is very competitive. They showed that tonight putting two away in the second half." WATCH | Wild hold on to defeat Halifax: Calgary Wild hold on to defeat Halifax Tides who remain winless 10 hours ago Duration 0:37 The Wild's Taegan Stewart scored her first career NSL goal when the 17-year-old Calgarian drilled a right-foot shot from the centre box home in first-half extra time. "It's been coming for a while. I had a couple of chances over the last couple of matches, but third time is a charm," Stewart said. "It was really exciting and now I'm wanting more." She celebrated her first goal by hopping on the back of forward Christie Gray's back for a run down McMahon Stadium's pitch. Taegan's twin sister and Wild teammate Keelyn attended their high school graduation ceremony in the afternoon before heading to the pitch in the evening. "It was a long, busy day — a pretty exciting day having graduated high school — but we made it work," said Keelyn. "It was even more exciting that we finally got to share the field together, so was a perfect way to end things off for us." Added Bedford: "T had her first start in the first Halifax game and for Kee, she has been pushing and pushing, knocking on my door for when those minutes are going to come. I'm just so proud of them both. To be 17 and to be stepping on the pitch as well as they are just shows all the work they have put in." Jenaya Robertson of Delta, B.C., made it 2-0 for the hosts with a left-footed strike in the 41st minute. Australian defender Ally Green got Calgary's first-half scoring burst underway in the 23rd minute. Wild goalkeeper Stephanie Bukovec's bid for a third clean sheet in four games was foiled when Haligonian Saorla Miller and Japanese striker Megumi Nakamura scored in the 72nd and 76th minutes respectively for the Tides. Bukovec and Halifax keeper Erin McLeod, who has appeared in 119 games for the Canadian women's team, each made one save. Bukovec was the busier of the two women with 68 touches to McLeod's 36. Wild FC's next game is against AFC Toronto in Calgary on June 14. The Tides host Ottawa Rapid FC on June 10.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Calgary Wild FC battle to draw against Vancouver Rise FC
Calgary Wild FC is packing a point back to Stampede City as the Battle of the West came down to a 1-1 draw against Vancouver Rise FC on Saturday at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, B.C. 'You've just got to focus on your own performances, in getting the rewards on the pitch from what you put in across the game,' said head coach Lydia Bedford. ' Today, we had more possession than they had; we had more shots than they had; we had more shots on target; we had more crosses – so, ya know, we did enough to win the game at the end. So, from a reflection perspective, our players can be really proud of what they achieved on the pitch, and hopefully they can build that momentum into their international break, and also into our next game against Halifax.' Calgary's netminder, Stephanie Bukovec's impressive 192 minute shut out streak come to an end as Vancouver's Mariah Lee slotted a low shot into the back of the net in the 12th minute. 'I feel good, I wish we would've got another clean sheet today but there was one crucial save made which is important and we are taking a point home, which is important as well,' said Bukovec of her play thus far in the season. 'This is the first time I've been with a club that the three goalkeepers have a good relationship and we continue to push each other to get better every day.' The Wild FC answered back just five minutes later when Kahli Johnson struck. Catching a pass from Danielle Steer, Johnson turned to the net and booted a shot from the top of the T to break Morgan McAslan's clean sheet. 'It was a bit of an instinct goal,' said Johnson, who netted her third of the season. 'I received the ball with my back to the goal, and thought 'let's turn and see how this goes' – was able to do that and then instinct took over to shoot the ball and it was a nice one.' Calgary pressed on throughout the match, continuing to create quality chances, outshooting Vancouver 12-7, with six on target. Time coming to a close, Taegan Stewart broke away from the pack, racing past Vancouver's defensive line and unleashing a shot across the face of goal that nearly pushed Wild FC to two. Despite multiple surges forward, Wild FC was unable to find a late winner and the match closed at 1-1. Saturday marked the second time Wild FC and Rise FC have met this season, with Calgary originally falling to Vancouver 1-0 on a penalty kick in the historic league opener on April 16. The draw brings the team's record to 2-2-2 heading into the league's international break. Johnson and Bukovec are two of six Wild FC players who received a call-up to join their international senior teams throughout the break. Johnson earned her first call-up to the Australian Women's National Football Team, while Bukovec will once again join Croatia. Meikayla Moore and Ally Green will join New Zealand as Jackie Sawicki links up with the Philippines, and Jackie Burns will receive another cap for Northern Ireland. 'I'm extremely grateful to people throughout my whole career who have helped me get here,' added Johnson on her international call up. 'Coming to Calgary, I wanted it to be that next step in my career and be able to push me up another level and I feel like there's no better way to see that come off than receiving a call-up a few months after getting here. I'm really excited to see what the next week is going to bring' 'We're really proud of Kahli. This is just the start of what will be a really great career. We're proud of all our players who received a call-up, I don't care if it's a friendly or not, it's a cap and it's part of their career,' added Bedford on the players earning international experience. 'I've worked in international football and I really respect it. We encourage all staff and players to take part in the international experience because it makes you a better person, a better player and you bring it back. We'll keep pushing everyone and hopefully six becomes eight and then becomes 10.'
Calgary Herald
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Wild FC dominate Halifax for first ever Nothern Super League win
A dream start with three goals in the first 25 minutes fueled the Calgary Wild FC to their first ever victory in Northern Super League history, beating the Halifax Tides FC 4-1. Article content 'I thought from start to finish, we dominated,' said head coach Lydia Bedford of her team's commanding win. 'For us it's about being front-footed, from an out-of-possession perspective we wanted to show our intensity and from an in-possession perspective we wanted to show the calmness that we've been there and done it in the NSL and we know how to control the game.' Article content Article content After getting blanked in the League's inaugural match last week against the Vancouver Rise FC, a new-look starting lineup wasted no time cranking up the heat on a soggy, cool day in the Maritimes, scoring twice in the opening seven minutes, and three times in 25 minutes. Article content Article content Meikayla Moore's name will go into the history books as the first ever goal scorer in Calgary Wild FC. The three-time Olympian kicked things off by jumping into the box, and successfully converting a header behind Halifax goalkeeper, Erin McLeod. Article content 'I'm absolutely chuffed to get on the board, especially our first goal for the club, it's really special,' said the Wild FC defender. 'Scoring goals is not my mainstay as a defender, but whenever we get an attacking free kick, especially in that area, it's certainly my job to try to put my head on it and today I was able to.' Article content Article content Moore took a high-curling pass from 17-year-old Taegan Stewart, who along with her twin sister Keelyn, are the second youngest players in the league. Article content 'It was surreal to have the assist on the first ever Wild FC goal. As soon as I saw the ball coming to me, I knew I had to hit it back post and Meikayla was there to get her head on it. I'm super excited, but we now we need to keep going and keep scoring,' said Taegan who made her first professional start. Article content 'As soon as I found out the starting line-up I was nervous but the girls supported me through the whole 90 minutes and Keelyn reminded me of all the things I've done to get here and all the people who have supported me, this is for them and my hometown club.' Article content The determined squad from the Stampede City were relentless on their attack. Five minutes later, captain Megan Dougherty-Howard jumped on loose ball off a corner kick from Jaclyn Sawicki and banked it off a Tides defender to sneak it into the corner of the net.
CBC
16-04-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Game on! Calgary's women's professional soccer team ready to hit the pitch
Calgary Wild FC will take on the Vancouver Rise in the first-ever Northern Super League game on April 16. Wild FC head coach Lydia Bedford talks to the CBC's Acton Clarkin about making soccer history and what fans can expect this season.
