Quinn's landmark goal helps Vancouver Rise top Calgary Wild in Northern Super League's inaugural match
CBC
Quinn is no stranger to big games.
The Canadian midfielder won gold at the Tokyo Olympics and has played in league championships. Being part of history on Wednesday, though, was something special.
Quinn scored on a penalty kick, helping the Vancouver Rise to a 1-0 victory over the Calgary Wild in the inaugural Northern Soccer League game.
"I think I've been in some really big games, and so I thought, `Oh, yeah, this will be easy to handle,'" they said. "But then definitely stepping on to the pitch, and seeing [league co-founder] Diana Matheson and [Canadian soccer legend] Christine Sinclair with the ball, and just kind of sinking in how much work's been done to get to this moment, I think I just took that time.
"And that was a pretty surreal moment for me. So it definitely kind of hit my heart in a different way than I thought it would."
WATCH | Rise FC's Quinn scores first goal in NSL history:
An announced crowd of 14,018 — many clad in teal and black Vancouver Rise scarves — took in the game at B.C. Place.
Before kickoff, Matheson and Sinclair, now a part-owner of the Rise, were recognized on the big screen. Fireworks and Canadian flags stood at midfield, where dozens of young girls clad in jerseys from each of the league's six teams, held shimmering gold discs that created a glittering effect.
Players on both teams had been eagerly anticipating the matchup. Many, including Calgary goalkeeper Stephanie Bukovec, have long waited to play professional soccer in their home country.
"I'm happy I got the opportunity to play. And it was a surreal experience playing on home soil," she said. "Not the result we wanted, but it was an amazing experience to be a part of history."
The Rise (1-0-0) controlled play across much of the match, outshooting the Wild (0-1-0) by a margin of 11-8 with a 4-1 edge in on-target shots.
Vancouver got a prime chance in the 14th minute when Lisa Perchersky unleashed a blast from above the 18-yard box, only to see Calgary goalkeeper Stephanie Bukovec deftly punch the shot away.
WATCH | Sinclair on NSL's momentous kick-off:
Rise forward Holly Ward looked poised to test the 'keeper again in the 21st minute when she sprinted in with the ball and was cut down by Wild defender Meikayla Moore inside the area. Referee Marie-Soleil Beaudoin quickly signalled for a penalty kick.
