Elizabeth Ruiz, Vancouver Rise FC
It’s been an exciting time for Vancouver Rise FC.
The team is currently navigating the inaugural season of the Northern Super League. Led by Rise FC coach Anja Heiner-Møller, Vancouver is currently in the fourth and final playoff spot in the six team league.
An eighth-match unbeaten streak during the summer has helped Rise FC to a 9W-7L-5D record and 32 points, but there’s still plenty of work to do in the final month of the campaign.
Rise FC have been out scored 10-0 in their previous two matches. A 7-0 away loss to AFC Toronto on September 13, and a 3-0 home defeat to Ottawa Rapid FC at Swangard Stadium on September 20, have the team searching for answers at both ends of the pitch.
“I think that we had a really long run of games where we were winning a lot,” Rise FC’s Nikki Stanton told reporters following training in Vancouver earlier this week. “I think it’s easy to forget some things going into certain games. Toronto obviously had something to prove to us after (we) beat them (1-0) at BMO (Field) (in August).”
The scoring opportunities that Vancouver created during their 6-0-2 run of form from July 19 to September 6 have still been there during their losing streak, but the high quality scoring chances in the final third is where Heiner-Møller would like to see more improvement.
“I do think that we want to get closer to the goal to have the finishes,” Heiner-Møller said. “That’s also part of our training to make sure our positions, when we’re finishing, are closer to goal.”
The former Danish international and her staff are not overly concerned with the offensive drought. As the team travels east to play Halifax Tides FC on Saturday in Nova Scotia, Vancouver, is hoping to replicate some of the success the team has had earlier in the season against Halifax.
Rise FC are 3-0-1 against the Maritime club, out scoring them 9-1.
A Rise FC win or draw, against Halifax, or a Calgary Wild FC loss on Saturday against Montreal Roses FC will lock Vancouver into a playoff spot. Vancouver could potentially clinch a playoff spot before they kickoff on Saturday afternoon at Wanderers Ground.
Vancouver will be without the services of center back Kennedy Faulknor. The 26 year-old did not travel with Rise FC this week. A clear timeline for Faulknor’s return to the pitch is unknown.
Rise FC’s back line has been hit hard by injuries. Captain Shannon Woeller is out for the season with a torn ACL. Ariel Young and Sara Lilja are also out for the season with torn ACL injuries.
“I think our back line has had a lot of changes throughout the year,” Stanton said. “It’s kind of like we’re ready for it. We’ve all been learning the principles of those positions. I think it’s just important to make sure we’re fine tuning all of those going into our game against Halifax.”
Stanton’s versatility and leadership is a big reason why Heiner-Møller is comfortable moving Stanton from the midfield to an area with a greater need. The 34 year-old is a candidate to anchor the back line against Halifax and as long as Faulknor remains sidelined.
“Having Nikki down there is giving us some confidence on the ball when we put a midfielder down at center back,” Heiner-Møller said. “There’s more experience and also confidence in terms of playing under pressure compared to normal center backs, so that comes with different options.”
Rise FC’s final four matches of the season will be on the road. The team would like to build some momentum before the playoffs begin in November. The task at hand is securing a playoff berth and then potentially home pitch advantage in the NSL playoffs.
“Yeah that would be amazing,” Stanton said. “We just want to win the rest of our games, but also make sure that we are at our very very best when it comes to playoffs.”
Vancouver can finish as high as the top spot in the NSL, but surging past Toronto’s 42 points could be a challenge. Ottawa is second with 36 points, and Montreal third with 35 points. The numbers have been crunched and Heiner-Møller is well aware of what’s within reach.
“We look at it every single week,” Heiner-Møller said. “We’ve done that almost from the beginning because the goals are clear, we want to be in the playoffs and as high in the standings. We look at that every single matchday minus one and (we’re) doing the math.”
The top four teams in the NSL will play a two-leg semifinals during the first two weekends in November. The NSL Championship will be played on November 15, at BMO Field in Toronto.
