August 12, 2026
Tia Schaffer heads Simcoe County Rovers FC over the Roses
Fresh off clinching the 2026 Ontario Premier League 1 Women’s championship, the Simcoe County Rovers FC arrived in Laval to challenge the Montreal Roses FC in a quarter-final match-up of the inaugural W Canadian Championship cup.
Simcoe County Rovers FC are fresh off a solid campaign, that saw them win fifteen of seventeen matches, and finish at the top of the table for the second consecutive season. The Montreal Roses, meanwhile, currently sit in second place in the Northern Super League.
See Also: Benati goal puts Halifax Tides over Montreal Roses in Laval
The W Canadian Championship is testimony to how fast soccer is growing in Canada, and tonight’s match-up a good test to see how close the OPL1 champions are to one of the best teams in the NSL.
Just two minutes into the game, Tia Schaffer got herself behind a corner kick that was crossed into the box, and headed the ball into the back of the Montreal Roses net, stunning the home side. Both the players and the fans in stands looked bewildered. Yet, there was till eighty-eight minutes of playing time to make emends and get back into the match.
Only the Simcoe County Rovers FC had other plans. This was a team that had arrived in Quebec on a mission and with something to prove. An underdog team despite being back-to-back Ontario Premier League 1 champions; when paired against an NSL team, few gave them an actual shot an advancing in the W Canadian Championship – and that would prove to be fuel for their fire.
Montreal pressured the Rovers hard and were creating chances against what proved to be a very determined and resilient side. Simcoe County most certainly had come to Quebec well prepared and with mental prowess and a belief that they could shock the higher league squad in enemy territory – and that early goal had done two things; stunned the Roses and empowered the Rovers.
In the 17th minute, Simcoe County Rovers looked as if they had doubled their lead, but the goal disallowed due to the linesman calling the play offside. The Roses had been lucky and were still very much in the game.
Montreal pushed back and came close to drawing even ten or so minutes later, but once again Simcoe County denied the Roses any room to maneuver in. Montreal pushed hard and found chances but again struggled to find any finishing, which is something that has been a growing concern of late. At times, the Roses are able to score in abundance and at others looks as if they never find the back of the net again. Tonight was the latter.
More and more, the game was becoming chippy and both sides began to play with an edge. This was growing into a grudge match of sorts, but it was clear that the Rovers wanted it more. And when the final whistle went, Simcoe County had earned a hard fought and well deserved surprise victory and will move on the semi-final round.
Meanwhile, the Montreal Roses will have a lot of questions to ask themselves as they’re forced out of the cup and must now regroup and focus on the Northern Super League season.
Given how entertaining and close this match up was, perhaps the W Canadian Championship should consider expanding further for nest year’s edition, bringing in more lower league clubs and allowing them the chance to showcase themselves and the their sport the way the Simcoe County Rovers have done – and at the very least, such an expansion would give the NSL clubs a good chance to scout local talent.
Read More:
>> Canada to play friendlies in Toronto and Montreal this October
>> Montreal Roses have a chance at history this August
>> AFC Toronto defeat the Montreal Roses in Laval
The final quarter-final match of the W Canadian Championship will take place on October 4th, when AFC Toronto and Vancouver Rise FC clash.
The Ottawa Rapid knocked out the Halifax Tides on August 3rd by a score of 3 to 2 at Wanderers Grounds in Nova Scotia. Two days later, the Calgary Wild FC eliminated the CS Mont-Royal Outremont by a score of 4 to 0 at ATCO Field in Alberta. Dates and locations for the semi-final rounds have yet to be released.
