BURNABY, BC, May 5th, 2025 – Vancouver Rise FC recorded a 1–0 victory over Halifax Tides FC in a physical and intense match this evening.
Rise FC started the game strong with Josie Longhurst flashing a pass across goal that just skipped past Mariah Lee in the opening minutes. On the other end, Kennedy Faulknor came up strong to deny Tides FC a scoring chance with a big tackle at the tenth minute. Nikki Stanton then crossed some dangerous balls into the box from free-kicks, making Tides FC scramble to clear the box. Quinn nearly got a free chance at the back post at the half-hour mark after a corner sailed all the way to the back post, but their header was blocked and cleared before it could cross the line.
VANCOUVER RISE FC HEAD COACH, ANJA HEINER-MØLLER
On controlling the match but wanting more goals
“In a game like this, where we’re so much on the ball, where we’re dominant on the ball, we need to close this game a little earlier. So it would have been good to have more goals going into the last phase of the game. I kind of feel we have more, I don’t think we have made the big jump yet, but it’s definitely there. We see good flow on the ball and we have that in moments here, but it needs to be longer periods.”
On what has stood out from the NSL after the first few games
“I think this league has started out very strong physically, and with individual qualities. I also feel that every team has an extra layer on the ball, so I like that and that it’s a physical league. It has the intensity but it’s also [a league] where teams want to play, and that’s just raising the level for North America, I feel, and that’s what we want to be part of as well.”
Sydney Kennedy got a chance to put Halifax in front five minutes later, cutting inside off the left but it was saved by Morgan McAslan. Stanton came close to scoring a stunning free-kick after Nedya Sawan was fouled some 25-yards out, but the American’s shot went just past the post. Quinn had a similar chance to their earlier one just before half-time, this time getting a shot off at the back post off a corner, but once again their effort was blocked before it could ripple the back of the net. That would prove to be the last action of the first half, as both teams went into the break with honours even.
Second half saw Rise FC take the lead after eight minutes. A corner kick cross was punched out by Tides FC keeper Erin McLeod, but it only went so far as Jasmyne Spencer at the edge of the box. With the ball bouncing, Spencer took it and fired a vicious volley that rocketed into the roof of the net to make it 1-0. Holly Ward nearly made it a quick-fire second, bombing down the left wing and cutting inside the box before being tackled at the last moment.
VANCOUVER RISE FC PLAYER, JASMYNE SPENCER
On the atmosphere at Swangard and it feeling like home
“Absolutely it does [feel like home]. Even from just pulling into the stadium and seeing the branding and all, and last week, seeing the Crow Collective marching in. I think it’s really credit to the supporters and really making it feel like home for us. And the passion that they have fueled us, starting from the second half of the last game. So I hope that they continue to bring that energy all season long. And then this place can really become a fortress.”
Daphnée Blouin came close to leveling for Tides FC after breaking down the right side, but her shot went wide of the mark. Holly Ward then worked her magic out wide once more a couple minutes later, turning her markers inside out and cutting it back for Samantha Chang to snap a shot, but her shot was blocked before it could test the keeper. Jessica De Filippo tried to chip a header over the keeper with less than 10 minutes remaining, but it bounced just wide of the far post.
Rise FC held firm for the last minutes of the match, securing the three points and keeping their clean sheet as they returned to winning ways.
Statistics
Possession: VAN 58% – HFX 42%
Shots: VAN 9 – HFX 6
Shots on Goal: VAN 2 – HFX 1
Offsides: VAN 1 – HFX 3
Corners: VAN 11 – HFX 2
Crosses: VAN 30 – HFX 8
Rise FC are back in action on Sunday May 11th, as they travel away from home for the first time to face AFC Toronto at York Lions Stadium. Kick-off is at 11am PT. Rise FC then travel to Ottawa to face Rapid FC on Thursday, May 15th at 4pm PT before coming back home to Swangard to once again battle against Halifax Tides FC on Wednesday, May 21st. Kick-off for that match is at 7pm PT. For tickets, please visit vanrisefc.com
