Vancouver Rise FC has made a perfect start to life in the Northern Super League – the first top tier women’s soccer league in Canada.
The new club claimed a 1-0 victory at BC Place on Wednesday evening, defeating the visiting Calgary Wild in the league’s inaugural match.
It came thanks to a 22nd minute penalty kick from Quinn, the Canadian international midfielder, who scored in front of an announced crowd of 14,018.
Even before kickoff, it was an energetic atmosphere outside the stadium.
A new supporters club called the Crow Collective marched down Robson Street, firing flares and chanting songs.
The supporters club draws its name from the crows which crowd Burnaby, where the Rise will play their home games at Swangard Stadium for the rest of the season, with only the opening fixture played at BC Place.
“Playing at Swangard is going to be like that, just so iconic for everybody,” noted Mel Bostrom with the Crow Collective. “And the way collective became – it’s because it’s a group of women who are supporting women.”
The hope is this new league inspires a new generation of girls to take up the sport.
“I think it keeps girls in particular engaged in sport, and that’s something that’s been a struggle because there haven’t been those opportunities,” said Tanya Fader, another member of the supporters club.
After this dream start, the Vancouver Rise are back in action on April 27 at Swangard Stadium.
