BURNABY, BC (SEPTEMBER 13, 2026) – Vancouver Rise FC rocketed themselves back up to fourth place on Sunday after blanking Ottawa Rapid FC 4-0 at Swangard Stadium, putting them two points over Halifax Tides FC. 

Rise FC came flying out the gates, getting right up to Ottawa Rapid FC’s box from the start. 

Audrey François had the first shot on target inside the first five minutes, after being found in space on the right of the box. 

Later, Rise FC had a goalmouth scramble after a shot struck the post off a corner, and it ultimately led to Josie Longhurst firing a shot that went just over the cross bar.

Mia Pante had a bright start out on the wing, and almost got her team in front in the 17th minute after her first time shot inside the box hit the sidenetting. 

Rise FC’s top scorer Jessica De Filippo almost added another to her tally in the 23rd minute after she was able to track back, win possession and drive forward before blasting a wicked shot that just dipped over the crossbar.

After putting consistent pressure on for nearly 30 minutes, Rise FC got their breakthrough through François. 

Sura Yekka was able to grab the ball on the far right side of the box after a loose clearance from Rapid FC, and drill a cross towards François, who redirected it first time to get her first goal for Rise FC. 

De Filippo nearly made it a quickfire double two minutes later, picking the ball up near the edge of the box and blasting another shot just over the crossbar. 

Rapid FC were not lying down however, and almost equalized after Melanite Forbes found a pocket of space inside the box and fired towards goal, but Rise FC ‘keeper Jessica Wulf was equal to it and pulled off a fantastic save to push the shot wide. 

Latifah Abdu almost pulled off an audacious goal after Mia Pante cut the ball back for her inside the six-yard box, but her backheel attempt was well saved by Rapid FC ‘keeper Melissa Dagenais. 

Abdu had another great chance in the 43rd minute, after being found streaking behind the defence, but her driven shot was kick-saved by Dagenais, before Pante’s follow-up shot went high and wide. 

Rise FC then went into the break with the lead and plenty of hunger to add to it. 

They kept that energy up into the second half, as Rise FC took just eight minutes to score their second of the match. 

Pante found Anna Bout down the left side, who then drove into the box and cut it back for De Filippo to fire home her 11th of the season, putting her back up to joint-leader in the NSL scoring charts. 

Abdu added a third just minutes later, after Bout threaded the ball through for the striker, who then took a touch to compose herself and slot it between the legs of Dagenais to make it 3-0. 

Rise FC were not satisfied with only three goals, as two minutes later in the 60th minute, Josie Longhurst scored a rebound goal after Pante’s cutback cross was deflected into the path of the midfielder. 

Despite the big lead, Wulf had to still be sharp as Rapid FC looked to get one back in the 73rd minute with a sneaky ball in-behind, but the Japanese ‘keeper did well to deny Florence Belzile at close range. 

Bout nearly got a goal to add to her two assists in the last 15 minutes after Pante’s cross found the midfielder at the back post, but she was just off-balance when she connected with the ball, sending her ball wide. 

Rise FC held it down for the last stages of the match, keeping it tight at the back and earning themselves the win and a valuable clean sheet, propelling them back up to fourth. 

Rise FC are back home to host Montreal Roses FC on Saturday, September 19 for our “Campus Kickoff” match, presented by National Bank. Kick-off is at 2 p.m. PT. Fans can grab tickets at vanrisefc.com/tickets. 

MATCH DETAILS

Referee: Yusri Rudolf

Scoring Summary
31’ - VAN - Audrey François (Sura Yekka)
54’ - VAN - Jessica De Filippo (Anna Bout)
58’ - VAN - Latifah Abdu (Anna Bout)
60’ - VAN - Josie Longhurst (Mia Pante)

Statistics
Possession: VAN 50% - OTT 50%
Shots: VAN 16 - OTT 7
Shots on Goal: VAN 6 - OTT 4
Saves: VAN 4 - OTT 2
Fouls: VAN 7 - OTT 8
Offsides: VAN 6 - OTT 3
Corners: VAN 3 - OTT 3

Cautions
70’ - OTT - Jung Min-Young

Vancouver Rise FC
31.Jessica Wulf; 4.Sura Yekka (21.Chantelle Swaby 67’), 6.Tori Tumeth©️, 25.Kaela Hansen (26.Anais Oularbi 67’), 18.Yuka Okamoto; 24.Josie Longhurst (12.Jaylyn Wright 84’), 14.Anna Bout, 11.Jessica De Filippo; 17.Audrey François (3.Jessika Cowart 61’), 99.Latifah Abdu, 22.Mia Pante

Substitutes not used
13.Morgan McAslan, 8.Alex Lamontagne, 46.Adalyn Fairweather 

Ottawa Rapid FC
30.Melissa Dagenais; 19.Choo Hyo-Joo (6.Caitlin Crichton 76’), 33.Jyllissa Harris, 4.Hannah Chown (2.Susanne Haaland 69’), 15.Nicola Golen; 20.Jung Min-Young (9.Jazmine Wilkinson 77’), 11.Sadie Waite; 21.Melanie Forbes (14.Min-A Lee 60’), 12.Keera Melenhorst, 7.Johanne Fridlund (13.Sonia Okobi-Oke 69’); 10.Florence Belzile

Substitutes not used
1.Mollie Eriksson