Montreal Roses earn trip to NSL final in 2-2 draw with Vancouver Rise

Montreal Roses FC forward Tanya Boychuk (12) is surrounded by her teammates as they celebrate her scoring a goal against AFC Toronto during first half Northern Super League soccer action in Toronto on Saturday, April 19, 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey)

The Montreal Roses are off to the Northern Super League final after downing the Vancouver Rise 5-2 over a two-game semifinal series.

Montreal took a 3-0 victory in the opener on Nov. 1, then battled Vancouver to a 2-2 draw on Sunday, ousting the reigning champions from the playoffs.

Noemi Paquin got the Roses on the board with a goal in the 39th minute, but the Rise battled back late in the first half.

NSL Player of the Year Jessica De Filippo scored for Vancouver in the 41st minute and Latifah Abdu put the visitors ahead in the second minute of first-half injury time.

Lisa Perchesky levelled the score at 2-2 with a tally for Montreal in the 78th minute.

The Roses will face AFC Toronto in the NSL final in Ottawa on Saturday.

Toronto earned its spot with an 8-2 aggregate win over the Ottawa Rapid.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2026.