DB Pridham delivered once again for Ottawa Rapid FC, scoring twice in the opening 16 minutes to secure a 2-0 road victory over Montréal Roses FC on Friday night at Stade Boréale. With the win, Ottawa leapfrogged Montréal into second place in the standings, flipping the script in a key late-season matchup.

The league’s leading scorer wasted little time putting her stamp on the game. In the 8th minute, Florence Belzile created space on the edge of the box before laying the ball off for Pridham, who unleashed a crisp strike into the bottom corner to give the visitors an early 1-0 lead.

Eight minutes later, the same duo combined again. Belzile’s clever pass found Pridham in almost identical territory, and the striker repeated the feat with another composed finish from distance. The quickfire brace stunned the home crowd and gave Ottawa a 2-0 advantage that they would not relinquish.

Roses Dominate Possession, Rapid Stay Ruthless
From there, Montréal poured forward in search of a response. The Roses dictated much of the play, finishing with nearly 60% of possession and 15 total shots. Time and again, however, Ottawa’s defensive structure held firm, limiting Montréal to speculative efforts while protecting their early lead.

Ottawa, by contrast, managed just six shots across the match, but their efficiency in front of goal proved the difference. Pridham’s clinical finishing, paired with Belzile’s creative spark, was enough to earn all three points despite the hosts’ statistical edge.

Match Stats
Possession: Montréal commanded 59% of the ball, but Ottawa’s defensive organization kept them at bay.
Total Shots: The Roses fired 15 attempts to Ottawa’s 6, yet the Rapid’s precision made the difference on the scoresheet.
Passing Accuracy: Montréal also led in distribution, completing 86% of passes to Ottawa’s 79%, but lacked the cutting edge that Pridham provided.

Looking Ahead
The result lifts Ottawa to 7-5-4 and into second place, knocking Montréal down to third despite sharing the same record. The Roses will look to rebound when they host Calgary Wild FC on August 23. Ottawa, meanwhile, return home to TD Place for a high-stakes showdown with Vancouver Rise FC on August 24.

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