Kahli Johnson’s moment of brilliance in the 16th minute earned Calgary Wild FC a 1-1 draw against Vancouver Rise FC in a tightly contested Northern Super League (NSL) matchup at the Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, B.C., Saturday.
The Aussie’s third goal of the season came just five minutes after Vancouver’s Mariah Lee opened the scoring for the home side, as both teams traded early punches in a fiercely competitive match that ended with neither side fully satisfied.
Despite Vancouver striking first through a well-crafted move down the left flank—finished expertly by Lee after a slick assist from Holly Ward—Calgary responded almost immediately.
Loading ...Restored to the starting lineup, Johnson received a pass from Danielle Steer with her back to goal, turned on a dime, and unleashed a stunning effort from the edge of the box that left keeper Morgan McAslan with no chance.
“It was a bit of an instinct goal,” Johnson said post-match. “I received the ball with my back to the goal, and thought ‘let’s turn and see how this goes.’ Instinct took over—and it was a nice one.”
Her strike briefly quieted a Swangard crowd that had been lifted by Rise’s early goal – which helped snap Calgary goalkeeper Stephanie Bukovec’s 192-minute shutout streak.
End-to-end action with no winner
Vancouver, unchanged from their 2-1 win over Halifax Tides FC a week ago, looked composed in the early stages. Calgary, meanwhile, reintroduced Johnson up top in place of Christie Gray, a decision that paid immediate dividends.
The match settled into an enthralling rhythm after the early goals, with both goalkeepers tested repeatedly. Bukovec produced what was arguably the save of the match in the 34th minute, denying Josie Longhurst at point-blank range after a slick Vancouver move.
At the other end, McAslan stayed alert to intercept multiple crosses and smother Calgary chances, including a dangerous delivery from winger Serita Thurton in the 23rd minute.
The second half featured more tactical chess than scoring chances, though the drama returned late. Both sides came agonizingly close to sealing the three points, but the goalposts, twice in the space of 60 seconds, had the final say.
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In the 88th minute, 17-year-old Taegan Stewart nearly stole the show with a blistering coast-to-coast run that ended with her shot ricocheting off the post.
Just seconds later, Vancouver countered through Holly Ward—again terrorizing the left flank—who beat multiple defenders and saw her own effort cannon off the woodwork.
After the match, Calgary head coach Lydia Bedford struck a reflective tone.
“You’ve just got to focus on your own performances, in getting the rewards on the pitch from what you put in across the game,” she said. “From a reflection perspective, our players can be really proud of what they achieved on the pitch.”
Teams and players set for international break
The draw sees table-toppers Vancouver rise to 3W-2L-2D, while Calgary move to 2W-2L-2D, as both sides continue to jostle for playoff positioning in the NSL’s inaugural season.
While the result offers no clear separation between the two, it does solidify both clubs as tough-to-beat outfits with attacking flair and defensive resilience.
As the NSL now heads into its first international break, six Calgary players will depart to join their national teams. Bukovec returns to the Croatian squad, while Johnson has earned her maiden senior call-up to the Australian Women’s National Team.
Meikayla Moore and Ally Green will link up with New Zealand, Jackie Sawicki joins the Philippines, and Jackie Burns heads off to represent Northern Ireland.
“We’re really proud of all our players who received a call-up, I don’t care if it’s a friendly or not, it’s a cap and it’s part of their career,” said Bedford on the players earning international experience.
“I’ve worked in international football and I really respect it. We encourage all staff and players to take part in the international experience because it makes you a better person, a better player and you bring it back.”
For Calgary, that means a brief pause on domestic ambitions—but also a sign of the growing international pedigree within their ranks.
Vancouver, meanwhile, will look to regroup and build on a performance that, while not rewarded with three points, showcased both defensive structure and attacking potential.
