The Vancouver Rise needed a win to give them the best opportunity for a post-season, and they delivered this afternoon with a 3-2 win over the Calgary Wild.
Mia Pante scored a first-half brace, and halftime substitute Jessica De Filippo added the eventual game-winner.
But it was not a walk in the park; the second half in particular was a nervy affair and saw the Wild get close to equalizing on a number of occasions if not for the gloves of Morgan McAslan.
Rise interim head coach Iain Derbyshire called it “a scrappy game at times.”
“When we got the ball…we looked really good,” Derbyshire said. “It’s sometimes the story of our season. Sometimes, we go away from that, and we present the opposition with opportunities, and we were a bit unfortunate with the couple of goals that we conceded. But I’m just really proud of the togetherness, the spirit, bodies on the line. And you can see even players who haven’t played so much just thrust into the limelight, and they responded so well.”
Pante got the proceedings started early for the Rise with a great individual-effort goal in the 7th minute. The attacker raced down the left side of the pitch before cutting into the 18-yard box, pulling up, and blasting her shot by the near post, past the stretch of Wild keeper, Sarah Keilty-Dilling.
Tori Tumeth came close to doubling the lead in the 18th minute. The centre-back’s powerful header off Anaïs Oularbi’s corner was blocked by a Wild defender off the line.
Pante doubled the Rise’s lead with her second goal of the match in the 35th minute. Alex Lamontagne’s well-weighted pass into the path of Pante was pinpoint perfect as the attacker rounded past the keeper and passed the ball calmly into the back of the net.
“Mia’s an incredible player,” Derbyshire said. “When we moved her from the fullback position up to the wing, we knew it would take a bit of time to get the rhythm, the consistency. Even then, she’s so dangerous every time she gets the ball. It’s not just the runs in behind; it’s the work rate off the ball, the combination play.”
But Josie Aulicino cut the Rise’s lead in half just before the whistle with a shot from outside the 18-yard box that went over everyone. McAslan was unable to reach the ball as it sailed over her and into the net.
De Filippo came on at the break for Lamontagne, who was struggling and limping towards the end of the first half. And it did not take her long to get on the board.
Anna Bout entered the box with the ball and cut it back for De Filippo, who was given too much space. Her league-leading 13th goal came in the 53rd minute and reinstated their two-goal cushion.
But the Wild would not quit. Jorian Baucon got a second for the visitors in the 69th minute. The Rise put themselves under pressure by not being able to clear the ball out of their 18-yard box, and Baucom capitalized on the loose ball.
The Rise felt they should have had a penalty call in the 80th minute. Pante was brought down in the 18-yard box by a Wild defender. The defender had her arm wrapped around the Rise player, but referee Sheila Couture was quick to wave calls off.
McAslan was busy for much of the second half as the Wild fought their way back into that match. The Wild dominated second-half possession and hemmed the Rise in their box for much of that period.
Defensive changes helped hold onto the win as the Rise ended their season on a high note.
Decision day for the Rise, but not quite
Today’s match was the final one of the regular season for the Rise. But it was also the only match on the NSL calendar for today.
Montreal Roses and Ottawa Rapid played their final match on Friday. Halifax Tides will travel to AFC Toronto for their last game tomorrow.
This means that while the Rise hold the final playoff spot for now, this could change depending on the outcome of tomorrow’s NSL match. If the Tides win, they would move ahead of the Rise in the standings.
“The key thing is that it’s out of our control,” Derbyshire said. “I’m sure the league will reflect on what they feel is the best process, what works for the fans, what works from the commercial aspect and the TV aspect. It’s still a growing league, and they’ll find the solution.”
Pante ready to go
Today’s brace was Pante’s first of her career. She is playing with confidence and swagger in her game, which was evident today.
But that has not been the case for much of the season. Multiple injuries have hampered her time with the Rise, but she has worked hard and come out stronger for it.
“I’m match fit. I feel like I’m flowing,” Pante said. “I feel like I’m getting my groove back in being a winger and trying to be threatening, and now not only looking to create goal-scoring opportunities, but looking to take them myself.”
Up next
Well, we’re not sure yet! The NSL playoffs tentatively start on either October 31 or November 1, depending on what side of the bracket clubs are placed.
Tomorrow’s match between Halifax Tides and AFC Toronto will provide answers, and we’ll just have to be patient until then.
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