Vancouver Rise FC put on a statement performance on Friday evening, defeating Halifax Tides FC 6-0 at Wanderers’ Grounds in what marked the largest margin of victory in NSL history to date. A pair of goals from Holly Ward and a flurry of finishes across both halves lifted Vancouver by a much-needed three points on the road, vaulting them into fourth place in the standings.

The match began with fireworks, and they came early. Holly Ward opened the scoring less than a minute into the game with her first NSL goal, calmly slotting home after a quick Vancouver press forced a turnover in the final third. Moments later, Jasmyne Spencer doubled the lead in the 8th minute, converting a clean finish to give the Rise early control.

Despite the early deficit, Halifax settled into the match and matched Vancouver in shot totals (16 apiece) over 90 minutes, showing determination and flashes of attacking creativity in front of their home crowd. But the Rise remained ruthless in transition and continued to find the net. Quinn added a third in the 31st minute with a confident finish off an assist from Lisa Pechersky.

Relentless Rise Push Forward
Halifax regrouped at the break, but Vancouver came out flying once again, scoring immediately after kickoff. In the 45th minute, Holly Ward netted her second of the night with a composed finish to make it 4-0.

The Rise rounded out the scoring with two more goals in quick succession late in the second half. Midfielder Nikki Stanton scored her first NSL goal in the 74th minute with a curling effort from just outside the box, and Mariah Lee added the sixth just three minutes later, capping off a fast-paced team move that sliced through Halifax’s defensive shape.

Halifax battled to the final whistle, continuing to create chances and winning set pieces in the final third, but Vancouver goalkeeper Morgan McAslan was up to the task, anchoring a clean sheet for the visitors.

Match Stats

• Possession: Vancouver held 59% of the ball to Halifax’s 41%, using calm control to dictate tempo.
• Total Shots: Both teams registered 16 shots, but Vancouver converted their chances with lethal precision.
• Passing Accuracy: The Rise completed 85% of their passes to Halifax’s 76%, with midfield efficiency powering their transitions and buildup.

Looking Ahead
With the win, Vancouver Rise FC improves to 4-5-3, climbing into fourth place and gaining momentum heading into the second half of the season. They’ll return home to host AFC Toronto on Wednesday, July 24 in what promises to be a tightly contested matchup.

Halifax Tides FC, now 3-8-1, will look to regroup ahead of a key road trip to Ottawa, where they’ll face Ottawa Rapid FC on Thursday, July 25 at TD Place.

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

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