Around the NSL: A brace of braces; Rapid rule; Jostling in the standings

WHAT a long weekend in the Northern Super League. If fans thought the eight goal tally between the first two games of Week 15 was wild, how about the final two games this past weekend?

A total of 11 goals were scored by AFC Toronto, the Halifax Tides and the Ottawa Rapid — that’s a whopping 19 in just one week of footy.

How did we get here? Let’s dive into the storylines.

Braces of the week

There were two highlight-reel braces this past weekend.

The first belongs to AFC Toronto’s Kaylee Hunter. The striker opened the scoring for the Mighty Maroons on the road just after the opening twenty. It was her second goal that stood out, though — with a little help from a lucky bounce.

After Calgary Wild defender Grace Stordy was sent off on a red card, Hunter was given the opportunity in the penalty kick. And Hunter didn’t miss — kind of. The strike was heading into the net when Wild goalkeeper Katelin Talbert got her finger tips on it, enough for the ball to change directions and ricochet off the post into the back of the net. Yeah. It’s worth a watch. Physics, man.

Hunter is now tied with her teammate Lauren Rowe for third most goals this season, both Maroons sitting at seven apiece, one behind league leaders Elyse Bennett (Montreal) and Delaney Baie Pridham (Ottawa).

At least Toronto pulled out the win off Hunter’s two strikes; the same can’t be said for Halifax.

Tides forward Jordyn Rhodes earned her brace by opening the scoring in the second half against Ottawa — one off her own strike, the other off a Rapid defender. Halifax led 2-0 well into the 83rd minute when the Rapid would go on to score three unanswered goals.

Rhodes now has four goals on the season, a silver lining in the collapse after getting two past future Golden Glove nominee Melissa Dagenais.

Rapid remain on top

Dagenias’ effort in backstopping her team to the 3-2 win over Halifax on Monday was much needed to keep breathing room between the Rapid (32 points) and surging Montreal Roses who, though the club beat the Vancouver Rise in Week 15, remain five points back of Ottawa (27).

It’s the Mighty Maroons who have snuck up on the Roses, now sitting with 24 points, after the club’s 6-0 stomping of the Calgary Wild.

Halifax (18) does have a chance to move toward third place Friday night on the road at Stade Boréale. The club could also compromise Montreal, with Toronto able to catch the Roses with a Sunday regulation win and a regulation loss from Montreal on Friday.

Who do the Maroons play Sunday? You guessed it: the Ottawa Rapid. It would be a triumph and a half at this point for any team to defeat Ottawa in regulation play.

By the time this is read fans will know if the Roses find themselves in trouble before Toronto’s game to cap off Week 16.

Games to watch in Week 16

It’s an editorial decision to whip the View out before the conclusion of the Halifax-Montreal game Friday night. Why? Well, it’s awfully hard to speculate on just two games. This way, next week’s column will have a full succinct analysis of Week 16.

With the implications of Friday’s game teed up in the last section, of course the recommendation is to watch both remaining games of the week.

The Calgary Wild — who still sit at two points on the season — find themselves in B.C. to take on the Vancouver Rise at Swangard Stadium (6 p.m. CBC Gem). The Rise are desperate to get back into the playoff race with 16 points. However, if Montreal manages to beat Halifax in regulation Friday night, Vancouver will have a chance to leapfrog the Tides into fourth place.

And, of course, the repetitive question remains: can the Rapid be stopped? Well, Sunday’s game will decide that. However, the Mighty Maroons will have to do it on the road as Ottawa hosts the club at TD Place Stadium (1 p.m. TSN) — the most unfriendly place for teams around the league this season.

Something has to give eventually, right?

winnipegfreepress.com/graceannepaizen