Calgary Wild FC scripted a landmark moment in their young Northern Super League journey, earning their first-ever home win with a dramatic 1-0 victory over league leaders Montreal Roses FC In front of 3,502 roaring fans at McMahon Stadium Sunday evening.
A thunderous 86th-minute strike from Jenaya Robertson was the difference in a tightly contested affair dubbed The Battle of the Roses, as Calgary not only claimed a crucial three points but also handed Montreal their first defeat of the season.
Loading ...The result catapults Calgary into third place in the NSL standings and solidifies their credentials as genuine contenders — a far cry from last weekend’s goalless draw against Ottawa.
“I’m so proud of the players,” said head coach Lydia Bedford. “Montreal is at the top of the table. I think everyone in this league is competitive and on any given day any team can take points from anyone. We showed that today with a resilient performance and some brilliant technical play.”
Cagey opening sees chances at both ends
The Wild started the match having made three changes to their starting lineup from last week’s 0-0 draw against Ottawa Rapid FC.
Christine Gray, Robertson, and Danielle Steer replaced Kahli Johnson, Sarah Griffith, and Madison Wilson. Skipper Meggie Dougherty-Howard, who had been an injury concern after clutching her shoulder in the previous game, also returned to the starting eleven.
Calgary began on the front foot, nearly taking an early lead inside six minutes when Gray’s shot from a corner was deflected wide. But Montreal responded swiftly with a threatening counter, only to be denied by a last-ditch block from right back Grace Stordy — one of Calgary’s most reliable defensive performers this season.
Montreal slowly grew into the game, controlling possession and attempting to dictate tempo through the midfield. Calgary, meanwhile, leaned heavily on their flanks, with Serita Thurton and Gray stretching the pitch with pace and width. Their strategy nearly paid off when Thurton rattled the crossbar in the 27th minute with a venomous volley.
However, despite intermittent threats, Calgary struggled with final-third execution, often relying on hopeful long balls and predictable wing play. The Roses, while slick in buildup, rarely tested goalkeeper Stephanie Bukovec in the opening half.
Robertson delivers in tense, rainy second half
The second half saw Montreal assert early pressure, nearly catching Calgary off guard in the 54th minute when Noemi Paquin pounced on a rare error by center back Meikayla Moore. Her ambitious long-range effort, however, sailed wide.
Calgary responded by turning to their bench. Kahli Johnson, the Aussie forward with two goals already this season, entered alongside Caleigh Boeckx, injecting fresh energy into a Wild side desperate to break the deadlock.
As time ticked on, tension gripped McMahon Stadium. Both teams were wary of conceding, and with two goalless draws in their previous outings, a repeat seemed increasingly likely.
But then, it finally happened. The breakthrough that sent Calgary into a ‘wild’ frenzy.
In the 86th minute, substitute Sarah Griffith delivered a precise pass from the right into space near the edge of the box. Jenaya Robertson charged forward and, without hesitation, unleashed a spectacular first-time strike with her right foot. The ball kissed the inside of the post before rippling the net, igniting a wave of celebration across Calgary.
“I just booked it forward,” said Robertson after the match. “I kept my head down and did my best to get into the right areas. It was a little nerve-wrecking for that split second, but thankfully it did go into the back of the net, so I was relieved, and I think the whole team was as well.”
Montreal, stunned but undeterred, threw the kitchen sink at Calgary in the final minutes, desperately seeking an equalizer. But the Wild backline, marshalled by Moore, stood tall under pressure and kept the Roses at bay in supreme fashion.
“We were really disappointed with last week’s performance, and we spoke about it this week,” said Bedford. “The response from the players was magnificent. We had two of the best training sessions this week that we’ve had in our entire time together. That showed that everyone was hungry, and we brought that to life on the pitch today.”
Calgary Wild FC will look to build on this momentum when they travel west to face Vancouver Rise on Saturday, May 24. The Roses, meanwhile, will have little time to dwell on the loss as they host AFC Toronto this Thursday, May 22.
