Vancouver Rise draw 1-1 with Halifax Tides, secure NSL playoff spot

HALIFAX — Vancouver Rise FC secured the fourth and final playoff berth in the Northern Super League with a 1-1 draw against Halifax Tides FC.

The single point was enough for the Rise (9-7-6) to join AFC Toronto, Ottawa Rapid FC and Montreal Roses FC in the first post-season of the women’s pro soccer league.

Milly Clegg scored her first goal of the season early in the 14th minute for the Tides, but Holly Ward equalized in the 62nd for the Rise with her sixth.

Halifax (3-13-6) earned a third draw in its last six games (0-3-3). Vancouver dominated in possession time 65 per cent to 35 and 23-5 in shots at Wanderers Grounds in Halifax.

Calgary Wild FC 2 Montreal Roses 0

Wild FC snapped a four-game losing streak, but Vancouver’s draw with Halifax had Calgary (7-13-2) on the outside looking in at playoffs.

Calgary’s Meggie Dougherty-Howard scored her third of the season just before halftime for the Wild’s first goal since Aug. 16, and Jorian Baucom collected her first in the 78th minute.

Stephanie Bukovec made six saves for the shutout in Laval, Que.

Montreal (10-7-5) dropped its second in a row, but had already secured a playoff spot.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27, 2025.