Around the NSL: Vancouver falling, Bennett’s boot, Montreal still perfect

IT’S fine and dandy to be accused of being a broken record, because… to go from the best to the worst? In one season? What’s up with that, Vancouver Rise?

Do the Calgary Wild also have zero points so far this season? Yes. But no one was necessarily expecting the Wild to come tearing out of the gates.

The defending Matheson Cup champions? Yeah, fans were expecting more from them — and rightly so.

The Rise led the league in clean sheets last season. Goalkeeper Morgan McAslan recorded nine shutouts and received the 2025 Golden Glove award.

Now? In the past three games, McAslan has let in seven goals on nineteen shots on target. When you break that down game by game, the stat gets worse. She let in three goals on seven shots against AFC Toronto, four goals on seven shots against the Montreal Roses and four goals on five shots again the Ottawa Rapid.

But the burden of a 0-3 start does not rest completely on McAslan.

The team has been outshot every game, with 42 shots against through three games to Vancouver’s 25. What’s worse is that the Rise’s shots on target total only five, including just the one against the Roses in Week 2.

It will be interesting to see what manager Anja Heiner-Moller has been doing the past 10 days since the club’s last game. The break between matches could be a blessing in disguise as the Rise kick off against the Halifax Tides Monday at 3 p.m. CT (CBC Gem).

If Vancouver is held goalless for the third time, they will truly be in a tailspin, even if it’s early in the season.

Here’s what also caught the eyes of fans this week around the Northern Super League.

Highlight of the week

Elyse Bennett. If you don’t know her name by now, learn it.

Not only did the Montreal Roses remain perfect — both in the win column and the goals-against column — but Bennett has a goal in all three games this year, including both in the season opener and the lone goal in Sunday’s win over Toronto.

Bennett embarrassed the Mighty Maroon’s defence in the 88th and finished with a snipe of a boot to give the Roses the lead in the dying minutes.

This is legendary stuff from a player who just signed with the league in February. What a fantastic weapon for manager Robert Rositoiu’s club.

What’s that about a broken record?

Is mentioning the Roses perfect season so far being a broken record? Or just spitting facts? The club has dominated since opening kick off and has no signs of slowing down.

Montreal goalkeeper Anna Karpenko has shut out her last three opponents, including the reigning champs and last year’s league leader Toronto.

It’s not just the foot of Bennett that has been leading. Edmonton’s Tanya Boychuk rattled off two goals against the Rise and home province product Noémi Paquin of Varennes, Que., got in the fun with her first goal of the season also coming against Vancouver.

Can the Roses keep the good times going against the Calgary Wild? Saturday’s matchup will answer that, but at this rate the only team that seems to have a fighting chance against Montreal are the Ottawa Rapid, who sit tied in points (nine) with the Roses with one game in hand.

If Montreal powers through to another win, the May 23 clash in Ottawa will be the next test.

Game(s) to watch in Week 4

Speaking of Montreal trying to keep its perfect record, all eyes will be on the Roses in Saturday match against the Wild at McMahon Stadium (3 p.m. CT, TSN).

Calgary and the Rise sit tied for points at the bottom of the standings zero. The Wild dropped the season opener to Montreal 2-0 before the Rapid crushed them 5-2 in Week 2.

Even scoring against Montreal would be a massive win.

The other game on the radar is — of course — concerns how Vancouver will fare against the Halifax Tides on Victoria Day.

The Tides are sporting a 1-1-1 record, with the lone win coming over current league-leader Ottawa.

All’s fair it seems in early season footy.

winnipegfreepress.com/graceannepaizen