Around the NSL: Wild’s new bench boss; Badu hat trick; Maroons still mighty
NSL storylines from Week 11
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It was inevitable the Calgary Wild were going to replace Sinead McSharry. The club announced the hiring of Aussie Leah Blayney as head coach the day after dropping Sunday’s game 3-1 to Ottawa, with McSharry returning to her original role of assistant coach with the club.
In fairness to the Wild here, though, to only lose 3-1 to the Rapid — which has launched itself into team-to-beat status this season — in enemy territory isn’t that bad. Yes, a loss is a loss, but this time it wasn’t for lack of effort. Calgary came out of halftime with energy and Meggie Dougherty Howard cut Ottawa’s lead in half in the 65th minute. And the Rapid’s cushion was only padded two minutes into stoppage time by Jazmine Wilkinson.
It’s understandable something had to change, but with the regular season nearing its halfway mark, is this bench-boss changeup too little, too late?
Vitor Munhoz / Northern Super League
Evelyn Badu leaps into the arms of her teammate at Stade Boréale. Badu had a hat trick last Saturday against the Vancouver Rise.
Northern Super League superfans should find out Saturday when the club hosts the Vancouver Rise (6 p.m. CT, TSN+). But before we get to Week 12, here’s other storylines from Week 11.
Highlight of the week
Just when it looked like the defending champs had its footing back in the season, the club rolled into Stade Boréale and left with no points after a 5-1 beatdown by the home side.
The Roses were led last Saturday by an Evelyn Badu hat trick.
The forward kicked off the scoring in the 18th minute and never took her foot off the gas, finding the back of the net in the 67th before bookending the match with her third in the 83rd.
Teammate Elyse Bennett and Tanya Boychuk pitched in for the side’s five goals. The Rise only got one back before the half off the foot of Jessica De Filippo before Vancouver let in four unanswered.
What a game for Badu. The forward leapfrogged herself into a six-way tie with four goals on the season in the stats column, while Bennett’s goal was enough for her league-leading seventh this season and Boychuk’s pulled the forward into third place with five.
Maroons still mighty
AFC Toronto showed just what it could do on Sunday. The Mighty Maroons struck early — 12th minute early — with Kaylee Hunter netting the goal after a beauty of a pass from Kaila Novak.
Toronto then held the lead for the remaining 88 minutes thanks to the hands of goalkeeper Sophie Manner.
Manner was peppered with shots from the Halifax Tides — which launched 13 her way — and saved the one shot the club had on target. The goalkeeper also held her ground on Halifax’s three corner kicks.
This is Toronto’s second win in a row and, with the victory, the Mighty Maroons sit third in the standings only three points behind the Montreal Roses (18). The club is very much back in business.
An investment to remember
It was announced on Tuesday that Apex — a sports investment firm with Formula One drivers Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris and Premier League full-back Diogo Dalot among its backers — has invested $30 million in the NSL.
“This investment from Apex reflects confidence not only in the progress we have made, but in the opportunity that lies ahead,” the NSL’s president, Christina Litz, said in a statement.
“As we continue to build the league, Apex’s global experience, strategic perspective, and commitment to growing sports properties will help us accelerate audience growth, strengthen our commercial business, and position the Northern Super League for long-term success on the international stage.”
In other words: it looks like the league is here to stay.
Game(s) to watch in Week 12
The early Saturday game has all sorts of fun storylines in Week 12, with AFC Toronto hosting the league-leading Ottawa Rapid at York Lions Stadium (3 p.m. CT, TSN+). Even though the Rapid have taken a firm 22-point grasp of first place in the standings, the Mighty Maroons will be more than happy to play spoiler and move into second place overall.
And on Sunday, the Roses host the Halifax Tides (3 p.m., CBC Gem). Montreal has an opportunity to regain ground on the Rapid with a win, and the Tides will be looking for a bounce back on the road.
Let the weekend games begin!
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