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VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Rise FC (9W-7L-6D) heads into its final regular-season match this Thursday, facing Calgary Wild FC with a clear opportunity to secure second place heading into the NSL Playoffs presented by Toyota. 

DECISION DAY: Rise FC enters its final match with a chance to clinch second place. In a poetic twist, they face the same opponent they began their campaign against: Calgary Wild FC, whom they defeated 1-0 in that historic league-opener earlier in April. The team has evolved significantly since then, so much so that the last time these two sides met, Rise FC delivered a decisive 6-0 victory at home, with Latifah Abdu scoring an impressive brace on her club debut. 

Now, the team must tap into that same energy to replicate that result on Wild FC’s own turf.  
 
IN-FORM FINISH: Rise FC is growing in confidence at the perfect time. The team is undefeated in its last three games, with key victories over playoff rivals Ottawa Rapid FC and Montréal Roses FC catapulting them from fourth to second place in just one week. Because of those results, Rise FC only needs a single point against Calgary Wild FC to secure second place and solidify its status as one of the most dangerous sides heading into the postseason. 

However, this game goes beyond just league place, as another solid result would help the team continue their momentum heading into the semi-finals of the NSL Playoffs presented by Toyota.   

PLAYOFF BOUND: With their playoff ticket already punched, this final match is crucial for determining who Rise FC will face in the semi-finals. Rise FC will want to avoid dropping points in this as all three teams could still technically finish on the same points, meaning the playoff seeding could come down to tiebreakers like head-to-head and goal difference. But if Rise FC can earn at least a point against Wild FC, or if either Ottawa or Montréal drop points in their final match, then Rise FC will secure the second place seeding outright. This would mean starting the semi-finals on the road against either Rapid FC or Roses FC before returning to host the decisive second leg at Swangard Stadium in front of a home crowd.  

With the Diana B. Matheson Cup on the horizon, the team will need its fans to come together and cheer them on through this final push.