Halifax Tides make history, debuting professional women's football in Atlantic Canada, but fall 4-1 to Calgary Wild
The Halifax Tides were greeted by singing, drums and thunderous support from a nearly sold out Wanderers Grounds on Saturday as they made history with their Northern Super League (NSL) debut.
Despite the dreary weather, the atmosphere was electric as the Tides starting XI — which included Nova Scotians Sydney Kennedy and Saorla Miller — took to the pitch for the first time, ushering professional women's football to Atlantic Canada.
But not everything was perfect.
The match itself — a 4-1 loss to a focused Calgary Wild FC — played out differently than the Tides would have hoped for their debut but the magnitude of the moment, and what it means for the community, was not lost.
"It was amazing coming out to a full crowd, that was a feeling I'll remember forever," said Miller, 23, who hails from Halifax.
"Of course, we're really, really disappointed with the result and giving up goals on set plays. We've got to be better there but it was really amazing to see the crowd with us despite all the challenges throughout the game and I can't thank them enough for that."
Midfielder Marika Guay, who scored the Tides' lone goal, also stressed the importance of the league's launch from a national perspective.
"It's bigger than me, it's bigger than Halifax, it's a movement," she told reporters in French when asked about the significance of the NSL. "To finally have a platform for Canadians to play in, we couldn't ask for better."
The Wild quickly took control of the match upon kickoff, churning over balls in midfield and isolating the Tides' attackers. By the eighth minute, the visitors had already scored two goals off set pieces — courtesy of Meikayla Moore and Meggie Dougherty Howard — and firmly put the Tides on their heels.
A third Wild set piece goal in the 25th minute threatened to turn the Tides' debut into a route, causing veteran goalkeeper and former Canadian Women's National Team player Erin McLeod to call for a quick huddle to refocus her side.
Speaking post-match, Tides head coach Lewis Page said the Wild capitalized on their chances early, especially on set pieces.
"Full credit to Calgary, they came out fast and hard and ready to go. They punished our mistakes early on," he said.
Page changed the look of his lineup in the second half, pulling striker Christabel Oduro in favour of defensive midfielder and Bridgewater-native Sarah Taylor. Taylor moved into the No. 6 role ahead of Halifax's backline, freeing up captain Gunny Jónsdóttir to take a more attacking mindset. Megumi Nakamura, who had been playing as an attacking midfielder, slotted in as the striker.
The Tides found some joy with their tactical tweaks, including their first goal in club history. Kennedy, who was designated as a corner taker, whipped a ball into the box in the 60th minute, which pinged around before Guay buried it into the back of the net to make it 3-1.
“I wish it would have been in a different context, to be honest, but it was just kind of a scramble in front of goal and you just have to be bold to put your body in and get the ball into the goal," said Guay, stressing the importance of getting a result.
"Any player would rather score no goals in a win then score goals in a loss. At the end of the day, it’s about the team's performance.”
Although they continued to push, committing more players forward in a bid to create, and again cycling out their striker by shifting Miller to the centre of the pitch, the Tides ultimately fell short, losing their opener 4-1.
The Wild had a very strong match statistically and took advantage of the Tides' nerves early, out possessing (61 per cent to 39), out shooting (13 to nine) and out passing (325 to 206) their opponents.
However, there are positive for the Tides to build on.
"I’m really proud of the effort we put into the second half, we put in a good fight to try and get back into the game. I thought we did a good job of that," said Page.
“We just kind of went back to getting the team a little bit tighter and defending more with three players up front, as opposed to two in the first half. It was more about getting back to our principles and back to the way we’ve been playing.”
All three Nova Scotians looked particularly bright in their debuts, especially Kennedy, who entertained with her dribbling and speed. Her cross, of course, also led to Guay's goal.
“This was a learning experience,” Kennedy told The Chronicle Herald post-match.
“We showed up and we played for each other but there’s a lot we need to improve. We just need to keep training and keep working on things. We’re a new team so we’re still learning how to play with each other. We’ll learn."
Although it may not have been the result the Tides hoped for, there's little doubt Saturday was the beginning of a new era for women's sports in Atlantic Canada. The result, with time, will inevitably fade from memory but the feeling of being at the Wanderers Grounds, with history unfolding to the sound of singing, drums and an appreciative crowd, will remain.
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Josh Healey
Josh Healey
Josh Healey
Cover Photo Credit: Halifax Tides FC
