Game Recap
Hometown Hero Mya Jones Steals Show in 2-2 Thriller at McWomahon Stadium
Mya Jones scored twice in her return to the pitch as Calgary Wild FC battled Montreal Roses FC to a 2-2 draw at McWomahon Stadium.
CALGARY WILD FC MATCH DAY NOTES
MONTREAL ROSES FC - SATURDAY, MAY 16
Calgary Wild FC delivered one of its most spirited performances of the young Northern Super League season on a frigid afternoon in Calgary, battling to a thrilling 2-2 draw against the Montreal Roses FC at McWomahon Stadium.
The result was powered by a pair of goals in a breakout performance from hometown forward Mya Jones, along with a sensational debut from goalkeeper Katelin Talbert.
“It feels like a win for us. We talked a lot about how much ceiling we have this year. We haven’t been able to demonstrate it much, but it takes a collective and it’s just really cool to illustrate what this group is capable of,” said head coach Sinead McSharry. “We were really impressed with the group on what we tried to focus on this week. We were more organized defensively and that was a big improvement from the week before. We talk about progress over perfection.”
Minutes after a spring snowstorm swept through the Stampede City, Alberta’s only women’s professional sports team brought the energy back to McWomahon Stadium in front of a passionate home crowd.
Facing relentless pressure through the opening 15 minutes, Talbert stood tall for Calgary Wild FC, producing a series of remarkable saves to keep the home side within striking distance. The 27-year-old goalkeeper showcased the athleticism, confidence and fearless style she is known for, making an immediate impact in her Northern Super League debut with several point-blank stops and highlight-reel saves.
One of Talbert’s best moments came when she made a dramatic sliding kick save with the ball sitting on the goal line as a Montreal attacker charged in, preserving the score and bringing the Calgary supporters to their feet.
“We are blessed that we have three really great goalkeepers. Katelin is a phenomenal shot stopper. She can cover a range of different angles across the goal. She has great reaction skills so we knew with some of the opportunity off crosses they would be dangerous and we’d need some of that reaction,” added McSharry. “She definitely brought it off the line a couple of times. She is just so roaring in that way.”
Montreal finally broke through in the 24th minute when Lisa Pechersky headed a ball in off the crossbar to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
As Calgary continued to defend a relentless attack, the momentum shifted late in the second half after McSharry turned to her bench. In the 73rd minute, Kahli Johnson and Meikayla Moore entered the match, followed three minutes later by hometown forward Mya Jones, a substitution that immediately changed the complexion of the game.
“We talked about the opportunity of getting Mya and a couple of others onto the pitch. For me it is always really fun to see the energy a substitution can bring, and we knew our substitutions could be a game changer,” said McSharry. “Being able to put a few people on in a short period of time stifled the momentum of what Montreal had. They are a great team and started to threaten us a bit. But for us to get some players on in that window gave us a new breadth and energy.”
Playing in her first soccer match in almost two years while battling back from injury, Jones ignited the crowd in the 85th minute, scoring her first professional goal to pull Calgary level at 1-1.
“It’s that much more special doing this in front of my family and friends. Just considering the journey I’ve had in the past year and a half has been kind of crazy, and I don’t think I could have written a better script with everybody who has gone through this journey with me being here to witness that,” said Jones, who dreamed as a child growing up in Calgary of playing professionally in her hometown. “It wasn’t just about me. It was about everyone. The way I felt when I scored that goal, when the team came in, I looked at every single face, and everyone was crying. It’s bigger than football sometimes and I’m really thankful.”
The Roses appeared poised to steal the victory when Claire Monyard restored Montreal’s lead in the 90th minute, but Jones had one more moment of magic left in her foot.
The Calgary product delivered another unforgettable moment, taking a centre pass from Kahli Johnson and finding the back of the net one minute later in extra time to tie the match 2-2 and send McWomahon Stadium into celebration. The two-goal performance marked a dream hometown debut for Jones and provided a glimpse into the Club’s potential.
“We’ve taken a lot from these last couple of losses. They didn’t really feel like losses because we’ve done really well and there was lots to build from,” added Jones, who was also named the Wild Rose Supporters Player-of-the-Match. “This is what we needed to get some momentum.”
The Wild FC will look to build on the breakthrough performance as they host Halifax Tides FC on Sunday, May 24 for the Kids Day match at 5 PM MDT.
CALGARY WILD FC FREE KICKS
- Calgary Wild FC teamed up with the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation to shine a symbolic spotlight on the importance of supporting women’s health by renaming their home, McMahon Stadium, to McWomahon Stadium over the next six weeks.
- For the first time ever, Calgary Wild FC launched a season-long 50/50 program presented by RE/MAX in support of the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation, with AWHF serving as the sole beneficiary.
- Mya Jones was named the Wild Rose Supporters Player-of-the-Match.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS OF MATCH 3 VS MONTREAL ROSES FC
Media can access video highlights from the match on the Northern Super League YouTube Channel.
MATCH SUMMARY
A complete match summary and stats can be viewed here.
ON THE RADAR
Sunday, May 24 - Home Match vs Halifax Tides FC (5 PM MDT) - Kids Day
Sunday, May 31 - Home Match vs AFC Toronto FC (2 PM MDT) - Retro Day
Secure Your Seat
Tickets for all Calgary Wild FC matches are available here.
About Calgary Wild FC
Calgary Wild FC is one of six teams in the Northern Super League, featuring some of the best women’s soccer players in the world. Shop our exclusive merch and #SoarWithUs. For the latest news and information on Calgary Wild FC, visit www.calgarywildfc.com or follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and X. Follow the league at www.nsl.ca.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Chris Dornan
Calgary Wild FC
T: 403-620-8731
E-mail: hpprchris@shaw.ca