Latest news with #VancouverRise
The Province
4 days ago
- 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
6 days ago
- 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.
CTV News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Rise, Wild play to 1-1 NSL draw at Swangard Stadium
Calgary Wild's Kahli Johnson, left, and Vancouver Rise's Lisa Pechersky vie for the ball during the second half of an NSL soccer match, in Burnaby, B.C., on Saturday, May 24, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Hamilton Spectator
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Robertson's late goal lifts Wild to 1-0 upset win over Roses
CALGARY - Jenaya Robertson's goal in the 85th minute lifted the Calgary Wild to a 1-0 upset win over the previously unbeaten Montreal Roses on Sunday in Northern Super League play at McMahon Stadium. Robertson took a right-footed shot from the centre of the box that found net for the only goal of the afternoon. Both teams controlled the ball 50 per cent of the time, and each had 10 shots, albeit the Wild had the only two on target. The Wild had five corners compared to the Roses' one, and the visitors had double the amount of yellow cards (4-2). The Wild improved to two wins, two losses and a draw, while the Roses slipped to three wins, one loss and one draw in the six-team Canadian women's pro soccer circuit. UP NEXT Roses: Host AFC Toronto on Thursday. Wild: Visit the Vancouver Rise on Saturday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 18, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Robertson's late goal lifts Wild to 1-0 upset win over Roses
CALGARY – Jenaya Robertson's goal in the 85th minute lifted the Calgary Wild to a 1-0 upset win over the previously unbeaten Montreal Roses on Sunday in Northern Super League play at McMahon Stadium. Robertson took a right-footed shot from the centre of the box that found net for the only goal of the afternoon. Both teams controlled the ball 50 per cent of the time, and each had 10 shots, albeit the Wild had the only two on target. The Wild had five corners compared to the Roses' one, and the visitors had double the amount of yellow cards (4-2). The Wild improved to two wins, two losses and a draw, while the Roses slipped to three wins, one loss and one draw in the six-team Canadian women's pro soccer circuit. UP NEXT Roses: Host AFC Toronto on Thursday. 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. Wild: Visit the Vancouver Rise on Saturday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 18, 2025.
