Calgary Wild FC closed out their inaugural NSL season in style on Thursday night, earning a 2-1 victory over playoff-bound Vancouver Rise FC at McMahon Stadium. Goals from Meggie Dougherty Howard and Kahli Johnson secured the result, as Calgary weathered late pressure to finish their campaign on a winning note.
Wild Take Control
After a composed opening half-hour, Calgary found their breakthrough in the 39th minute when captain Meggie Dougherty Howard calmly converted from the penalty spot to put the hosts in front. The goal capped a steady stretch of possession for Calgary, who matched Vancouver’s intensity and stayed compact defensively against the visitors’ quick transition play.
Just moments into the second half, the Wild doubled their advantage. A driving run from Jorian Baucom drew the defense out of shape before she slipped a clever pass across goal to Kahli Johnson, who made no mistake with a composed finish to make it 2-0.
Vancouver Pull One Back
Vancouver refused to go quietly and clawed a goal back in the 71st minute. After earning a penalty, Jessica De Filippo stepped up and fired her shot off the underside of the crossbar and in, bringing the score to 2-1. The visitors pushed hard for an equalizer in the final stretch, dominating possession and piling on shots, but Calgary held firm to see out the win.
Match Stats
- Possession: Vancouver controlled 60% of the ball.
- Total Shots: The Rise outshot Calgary 19 to 7 but couldn’t convert their chances.
- Passing Accuracy: Vancouver completed 82% of passes to Calgary’s 76%.
Looking Ahead
Calgary (9-14-2, 29 points) end their season on a high, showcasing growth and chemistry as they turn their focus to building for 2026. Vancouver (11-8-6, 39 points) finish the regular season in strong form but will have to wait for Sunday’s AFC Toronto–Montréal Roses match to determine their final playoff seeding.
For full match statistics, lineups, and a detailed play-by-play, visit the official NSL match page.