Ottawa soccer fans woke up to a surprising result this weekend: the league-leading Ottawa Rapid dropped a 4-3 thriller to the last-place Calgary Wild at McMahon Stadium in Northern Super League (NSL) play.
What Happened
Calgary Wild forward Serita Thurton was the story of the match, netting two goals in the first half alone to give her side a surprise lead over Ottawa's top-of-the-table squad. Despite battling back, the Rapid couldn't complete the comeback, ultimately falling 4-3 in a game that had plenty of back-and-forth scoring on both sides.
For a team that's been setting the pace in the NSL standings all season, it's the kind of result that stings — the sort of "trap game" upset that happens when a struggling club has nothing to lose against a division leader.
Why It Matters for Ottawa
The Rapid have quickly become one of the city's most exciting sports stories since the Northern Super League launched, giving Ottawa a genuine contender in Canada's new professional women's soccer circuit. The team has built a loyal following at home matches, and their perch atop the standings has been a point of pride for local fans following the club's rise.
A loss to a last-place opponent won't derail Ottawa's season on its own, but it does tighten things up in the league table and serves as a reminder that no lead is safe in a league this competitive. With the Rapid having set such a high bar for themselves this season, Ottawa supporters will be watching closely to see how the squad responds in their next outing.
Looking Ahead
The Rapid will look to regroup and get back to their winning ways as the NSL season continues to heat up. Ottawa's front office and coaching staff will no doubt be reviewing what went wrong defensively against Calgary, especially after conceding two quick goals to Thurton in the opening half.
With the playoffs approaching, results like this one are a useful gut-check for a Rapid squad that has otherwise dominated much of the competition. Ottawa fans hoping to see their team carry a top seed into the postseason will want to see a bounce-back performance sooner rather than later.
Source: CBC Sports
