It was back to winning ways for Vancouver Rise FC as they defeated Halifax Tides FC 2-1 at Swangard Stadium.
A second-half brace from Jessica De Filippo moved the Rise to within three points of the final playoff spot in the NSL table.
Rise head coach Anja Heiner-Møller said, “How we started the second half is how we obviously wanted to start the game.”
“I think we’ve been so close for so many games. We’ve been close for a while, but it’s really nice that this time, it was us.”
The Rise were saved from early blushes by Morgan McAslan as she came up with two big saves in the 16th minute. Sydney Kennedy barrelled her way past Jaime Perrault and Myla Ewasiuk as she cut down the byline and played in Jordyn Rhodes.
Rhodes’s shot and the subsequent rebound were both saved by the Rise keeper before she could hold on.
But Rhodes was undeterred, scoring just minutes later. A pass from the left found the striker, with Rise newcomer Kaela Hansen to confront her. Rhodes caught the defender a bit flat-footed as she turned in behind Hansen and unleashed a hard, low shot past McAslan.
The Rise continued to fight throughout the half, but they saw several chances squandered. In particular, Maithe Lopez exhibited her creativity, but nothing truly threatened Anika Toth in the Tides’ goal.
The infusion of Latifah Abdu at halftime forced a switch away from the back four defensive line. She popped up with a clear break on goal in the 53rd minute, but the ball got away from her, and the chance went to waste.
Jessica De Filippo tied the match in the 58th minute with her eighth goal of the season. Anna Bout’s cross from the left came in high, and the Rise striker got high, towering over her defender to head the ball in.
De Filippo added the game-winner in the 93rd minute. Latifah Abdu played in a similar cross for the striker, this time to her feet. De Filippo controlled the ball, bringing it down to the pitch before passing it beyond Toth into the net.
That was De Filippo’s ninth goal of the season, one ahead of Ottawa Rapid’s D.B. Pridham and Montreal Roses’ Elyse Bennett for the NSL season’s Golden Boot race.
The win also moved the Rise within three points of the Tides for the coveted final playoff spot with 10 matches left in the regular season.
Consistency for Ewasiuk paying off
Myla Ewasiuk has started the last six matches in a row, playing the full 90 minutes in the last four. For an academy player to come into the senior squad and immediately be thrust into a starting position, it could have been a daunting task.
And while the jitters showed initially for the 17-year-old centre-back, Ewasiuk has grown in confidence with consistent minutes.
“She’s been training with us for a while, and it’s really good to see that the academy can produce players that are ready to go in as fast as she has been doing that,” Heiner-Møller said. “Every time she steps on the field and in training, she is communicating. She’s taking that responsibility. She’s a strong out-of-possession player, and it’s great to have that opportunity.”
Heiner-Møller also said it was a credit to the entire team who have helped Ewasiuk feel at home in the senior squad.
Up next
The Rise head to Ottawa to take on the Rapid on Aug. 22. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. PST.
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