Unbeaten matches at 8: Rise FC continue winning streak with 6-0 victory over Calgary

The Vancouver Rise FC extend their undefeated streak to eight matches, with a resounding 6-0 win over Calgary Wild FC at Swangard Stadium on Sept. 6. Vancouver’s last loss was on July 12, handed to them by the Calgary Wild.

The Rise won its fourth-straight game in a row and put six goals past the opponent for the second time this season.

The victory is also historic in another sense. With this result, Rise FC have beaten all five Northern Super League (NSL) clubs in their debut season — an unprecedented achievement that underscores the team’s remarkable consistency across the campaign.

The night’s headline performance belonged to Latifah Abdu, who wasted no time making her presence felt in her first match for Vancouver. Abdu previously played for Montreal Roses FC before she was transferred to the Rise a week before the match, after requesting a contract release.

Just 14 minutes in, Abdu was in the right place at the right time. She finished into an empty net after Jessica De Filippo pressed aggressively and forced Calgary goalkeeper Stephanie Bukoveć into a turnover. It was a poacher’s goal, but one that immediately endeared Abdu to the Swangard faithful.

Rise newcomer Abdu was not done yet. In the 52nd minute she struck again, calmly finishing a cutback from Holly Ward into the far corner.

Abdu now has eight goals and one assist in league play this season, bringing her total to nine goal involvements. For a debut, it could hardly have been more emphatic.

De Filippo, who played a part in the opener, also found herself on the scoresheet. In first-half stoppage time, she capitalized on a poor Calgary back pass, intercepting the ball nearly 35 yards from goal. Without hesitation, she lofted a shot high over the stranded Bukoveć and into the net. The audacity of the attempt drew gasps from the crowd and doubled Vancouver’s lead before the interval.

The second half quickly turned into a showcase of Vancouver’s offensive depth. Shortly after Abdu’s second, Lisa Pechersky was fouled inside the box, and captain Quinn stepped up to the penalty spot. The midfielder made no mistake, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to extend the lead to 4-0. 

The goal was Quinn’s sixth of the campaign — and not her first to come from the penalty spot. With six assists also to their name, Quinn has 12 goal involvements this season — a mark that places them among the league’s most productive players.

Mariah Lee added to the tally in the 71st minute, rising highest to meet a Quinn corner and powering a header into the net.

The scoring was complete six minutes later when Pechersky collected a chipped pass from Quinn, cut inside from the left, and curled a spectacular effort into the roof of the goal. It was Pechersky’s fourth goal of the season, adding to her three assists, and a reminder of the variety of attacking threats available to the Rise.

Although the headlines will focus on the attacking display, goalkeeper Morgan McAslan was equally important to the outcome.

Calgary created several dangerous chances, most notably when forward Jorian Baucom broke through one-on-one in the first half. McAslan held her ground and made the stop, preserving Vancouver’s narrow lead at the time. She later produced a double save just before the hour mark to deny what could have been a momentum-shifting goal.

Michelle Romero also came close, striking the crossbar with a header, but Calgary were ultimately kept off the scoresheet. McAslan’s clean sheet was her seventh of the season — a league high. 

The numbers illustrate the depth of Vancouver’s success. Ward now has 10 goal involvements — five goals and five assists — Pechersky with seven, and Lee with five direct goals. De Filippo’s four goals and one assist provide a steady return, while Abdu’s instant impact adds another dimension to an attack that already appeared formidable. With McAslan anchoring the defense, the Rise are excelling at both ends of the pitch.

Vancouver’s earlier 6-0 win this season against Halifax Tides FC on July 19 further cements Rise FC’s reputation as one of the NSL’s most balanced sides. They have scored multiple goals in six consecutive matches and conceded only twice in that span. For Calgary, it was another frustrating evening marked by defensive lapses and missed chances in front of goal.

With eight games undefeated, seven clean sheets, and victories against every other team in the league, Vancouver’s inaugural campaign continues to exceed expectations. What began as a promising season is rapidly turning into one of the most impressive storylines in the new league.