Latest news with #StephanieBukovec
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.'
CBC
11-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Calgary Wild bring in Forest Lawn students for club's first home game on Sunday
Social Sharing Students at a Forest Lawn school will get some of the best seats in the house when pro women's soccer arrives in Calgary this weekend. Calgary Wild FC goalkeeper Sarah Keilty-Dilling visited Ian Bazalgette School in the city's southeast this week to launch the Keepers Corner campaign. Now a goalkeeper herself for Alberta's first pro women's soccer team, a founding club in the Northern Super League, Keilty-Dilling previously taught physical education at Ian Bazalgette. Keepers Corner is an initiative through which Wild goalies will donate 20 tickets to the school for each of the club's 13 games at McMahon Stadium, where the club will make its home debut on Sunday against Ottawa Rapid FC. WATCH | Former teacher returns to school as pro goalkeeper Calgary teacher turned pro goalie returns to home turf 2 days ago Duration 1:47 Ahead of Calgary Wild FC's home opener, players visit students in the Forest Lawn area to launch a program to give kids the opportunity to attend the team's home games. "The kids at the school and the kids in this area are historically underprivileged and undervalued, and I see so much potential and value in these kids," said Keilty-Dilling, who visited the school alongside Wild midfielder Sonia O'Neill and goalkeeper Stephanie Bukovec. The initiative will seat students from the program in a Keepers Corner section of the stadium by the home team's net. Following the game, students will get to meet the goalies. Bazalgette principal Steven Pike considers Keilty-Dilling, who has committed to regularly visiting the school, an inspiration to students. "I think professional sports is a good platform to give people an idea that there are opportunities in life," he said. "Especially in Canada, as long as you work hard and you pursue things, you can gain a lot of those opportunities." Record-breaking college career goes pro After Keilty-Dilling, 31, got her start with the Calgary South West United and Chinook FC youth clubs, she joined the NCAA Division I soccer team at the University of Texas at El Paso Miners. Her final season in 2014 netted her MVP and Female Athlete of the Year awards, while her 82 games started and 41 wins in her college career made her the program's all-time leader in both categories. After one year on the Women's Premier Soccer League's FC Tuscon in Arizona, she returned to Calgary and played with Calgary Foothills in the professional-amateur Women's United Soccer league, where she served as team captain and was named the Goalkeeper of the Year in 2022. Now, she's playing a pivotal role for the Wild in the Northern Super League's first year. "It's a dream come true," Keilty-Dilling said. "It's unreal, and to be able to do it in my hometown as well, it's really special." WATCH | Calgarians lace up for Wild Calgary Wild FC signs 2 local players to the professional women's soccer club 6 months ago Duration 1:18 Calgary's Wild FC which will compete in the Canada's first professional women's soccer league has named to local players to its roster. Goalkeeper Sarah Keilty-Dilling and full-back Grace Stordy will play for the team in its first season next year. The Wild made their debut on April 16 at B.C. Place against the Vancouver Rise, where they fell 1-0. They rebounded at their next game, hosted by the Halifax Tides on April 26, with a commanding 4-1 win. Calgary fell short in their third contest, losing 2-1 to AFC Toronto, but they hope to climb back to .500 during their home opener on Sunday. Knowing they've got those students cheering them on could be the boost they need. "I'd hope that they could be inspired by just a little bit of my journey and just the message of not giving up, not quitting and chasing your dreams," said Keilty-Dilling.
