Ottawa Rapid FC turned in a clinical road performance on Saturday night, defeating Vancouver Rise FC 3-0 at Swangard Stadium to extend their unbeaten run to five matches. In a game where Vancouver dominated possession but couldn’t find a breakthrough, Ottawa were ruthless on the counterattack and struck three times to keep hold of second place in the Northern Super League standings.

The match carried major playoff implications, with Vancouver needing a win to clinch their postseason berth. Roared on by their home crowd, the Rise spent long spells on the ball but struggled to convert possession into meaningful chances. Ottawa, already playoff-bound, stayed compact defensively and pounced with precision when opportunities arose.

Downing Delivers Homecoming Strike
The Rapids opened the scoring in the 37th minute through a moment of brilliance from Stella Downing, a Vancouver native, who raced onto a through ball and buried a breakaway finish into the back corner of the net. The goal stunned the home fans and gave Ottawa a 1-0 halftime lead despite spending much of the opening frame defending.

Pridham & Wilkinson Seal It
Vancouver pushed hard for an equalizer after the break, piling on shots and pinning Ottawa deep. But the Rapids’ back line held firm, and in the 76th minute, DB Pridham provided the killer blow. The league’s leading scorer dodged a sliding tackle, surged through the middle of the pitch, and slotted home her 18th goal of the season to double Ottawa’s lead and silence the stadium.

Just minutes after coming on as a substitute for Pridham, Jazmine Wilkinson put the result beyond doubt. In the 83rd minute, she rose highest to meet a pinpoint cross from Nicola Golen and headed home her first-ever NSL goal, sparking celebrations on the Ottawa bench and putting an exclamation point on a statement win.

Match Stats

• Possession: Vancouver controlled 64% of the ball but couldn’t break down Ottawa’s defensive shape.
• Total Shots: The Rise fired off 19 attempts compared to Ottawa’s 8, but it was the visitors who made their chances count.
• Passing Accuracy: Vancouver were sharp with 85% passing success, but Ottawa’s direct play proved decisive.

Looking Ahead
The win moves Ottawa to 10-6-6 (36 points) and keeps them firmly in second place as they gear up for a marquee home clash against league-leaders AFC Toronto on September 26. Their five-match unbeaten streak makes them one of the league’s hottest sides heading into the final stretch.

Vancouver (9-7-5, 32 points) missed the chance to clinch their playoff spot and will now look to bounce back when they travel east to face Halifax Tides FC on September 27, a match that could prove decisive in their postseason hopes.

For full match statistics, lineups, and a detailed play-by-play, visit the official NSL match page.