Ottawa Rapid FC have given the capital a reason to cheer, surging to first place in the Northern Super League standings after a 3-1 victory over Vancouver Rise FC. The win was headlined by a two-goal performance from DB Pridham, whose brace proved the difference in a result that lifts the Rapid above the rest of the league.
A brace that made the difference
Pridham's two goals carried Ottawa to the three-point haul, the kind of standout individual showing that turns a close contest into a defining one. Vancouver Rise managed to find the back of the net once, but it wasn't enough to stop the Rapid from taking all three points and, with them, top spot in the NSL table.
For a club still building its identity in Canada's new women's professional league, a 3-1 scoreline against a fellow expansion side carries real weight. It's not just a win — it's the kind of performance that signals Ottawa intends to be a contender, not a participant.
Why this matters for Ottawa
Ottawa Rapid FC are part of the Northern Super League, the country's first dedicated professional women's soccer competition, and the team has quickly become a point of pride for local fans hungry for top-flight women's sport in the capital. Moving into first place gives the club bragging rights and, just as importantly, momentum.
For a city that already rallies behind its Senators, RedBlacks and 67's, the Rapid add another team to cheer — and one that's putting Ottawa at the very top of a national standings table. Sitting first in the NSL is exactly the kind of result that draws new fans to matches and builds the loyal, local following that turns an expansion club into a fixture of the city's sports scene.
Top of the table — for now
First place in any league is a position you have to defend, and the NSL season is a long road. But for now, Ottawa Rapid FC are the team to beat, and Pridham's brace against Vancouver Rise will be remembered as a key chapter in that climb.
If you haven't caught a Rapid match yet, this is the moment to start paying attention. A first-place team in a brand-new national league doesn't come along every day, and Ottawa has one on its hands.
Source: CBC Ottawa.
