Calgary Wild FC marked a historic milestone in impressive style Sunday, playing their first-ever home match at McMahon Stadium in front of a raucous crowd of 8,556. But the celebrations stopped short of a fairytale finish as they settled for a 0-0 draw with Ottawa Rapid FC under the late spring evening sun.
It was the first women’s professional soccer match in Calgary and the third-largest crowd in the short history of the Northern Super League.
The fans, draped in purple Wild jerseys and scarves, roared on their team across 90 tightly-contested minutes and rushed to the railings post-match for autographs and selfies with their heroes. Yet, on the pitch, the match delivered everything but a goal.
“It was surreal. As a young girl growing up in this city, never would I have imagined this day – playing professional football at home would have happened, let alone in front of this many people,” said defender Grace Stordy, who was born and raised in Calgary.
A chess match in midfield, a stalemate in the box
Both teams brought their best midfield artillery to the battle.
Veteran Desiree Scott pulled the strings for Ottawa through the centre and Calgary’s Serita Thurton made relentless runs on the right flank. But, despite the sharp build-up play and moments of attacking promise, the final ball was often lacking for both teams.
Rapid began the match with composure, opting for long diagonals and width in their attack. Delaney Baie Pridham’s early attempt in the 15th minute sailed over the bar, followed by Lee Min-a’s close-range shot a minute later, which was also high.
Calgary Wild FC fans at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alberta Sunday, May 11, 2025. Photo: Salman Bhanji/Total Soccer News
Thurton, meanwhile, was electric down the right for Calgary.
The forward, who helped Canada secure a fourth-place finish at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay in 2018, created multiple chances with crosses into the box, notably in the 30th and 37th minutes, where her deliveries narrowly missed Kahli Johnson.
Ottawa had their moments too, with Scott dictating tempo and linking up with Polish midfielder Kayla Adamek. A threatening cross in the 40th minute nearly led to a Rapid opener, but Calgary keeper Stephanie Bukovec showed safe hands to smother the danger.
Ottawa turn up the heat, Calgary remain ice cool in defense
The second half saw tactical tweaks from both sides.
Calgary introduced teenager Taegan Stewart and forward Danielle Steer to add fresh legs in attack. Steer nearly delivered in the 56th minute when she spotted keeper Mollie Eriksson off her line and tried an audacious shot from 20 yards — only to see it skim just over the bar.
Sensing the match slipping into Calgary’s defensive rhythm, Ottawa Rapid shifted gears by bringing on Norwegian forward Johanne Fridlund and midfielder Naomi Lofthouse in a bid to transition quicker and press higher.
Calgary Wild FC (purple) draw 0-0 with Ottawa Rapid FC (white) in their Northern Super League home opener at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alberta Sunday, May 11, 2025. Photo: Salman Bhanji/Total Soccer News
But the home side stood firm courtesy of Meikayla Moore, who was a towering presence at the back — intercepting, organizing, and winning duels with calm authority.
Moore, who already has two goals this season, continued her commanding display at the back along with right back Stordy. The duo showed both tenacity and poise, particularly in the 82nd minute when they cleared a dangerous ball after a scramble in the box.
One last Calgary Wild FC chance in stoppage time
Even with nine minutes of stoppage time, largely due to a shoulder injury to Calgary skipper Meggie Dougherty Howard, neither side could find a breakthrough.
The final and perhaps best chance came deep into added time when second half substitute Christie Gray sent in a pinpoint cross from the left, finding Stewart in space inside the box. However, the 17-year-old couldn’t keep her shot down and missed by a whisker.
“I think the heat might have got to us a bit, but I am happy with how we played. We want to get better from every performance,” said Calgary Wild head coach Lydia Bedford.
“The resilience of our defensive shape today isn’t necessarily the style of football we worked on in pre-season. But if we can make things compact and hurt teams on the counterattack like we showed in the second half, that’s something other teams will need to watch out for.”
The result leaves Calgary Wild FC in third place on the league table with four points. They will next be in action against Montreal Roses FC at the McMahon Stadium on May 18. Ottawa Rapid, on the other hand, will host Vancouver Rise FC on Thursday.
