The Montreal Roses were in for another thorny test as they faced the Ottawa Rapid on June 25, 2026, at Stade Boréale. The previous meeting between the league's top two teams saw the Roses come away with a 2-1 victory, but this time the Rapid arrived ready for the fight.

The Roses were without head coach Robert Rositoiu, Lisa Pechersky, Julia Leas, and Stéphanie Hill. The match also marked the final time Kang Chae-rim would play on Canadian soil, as she has decided to return to Asia to be closer to her family.

Like their previous match against Calgary, this one quickly turned physical. Elyse Bennet and Evelyn Badu each committed defensive fouls in the opening six minutes, while Ottawa's Nicola Golen and Johanne Fridlund were also whistled early. With the league's top two sides facing off, it was clear neither was willing to hold back. The Rapid struck first in the 12th minute when Keera Melenhorst slipped the ball past Anna Karpenko.

Following the goal, the Roses quickly turned up the pressure. Chae-rim found Chloe Minas for an effort that was caught by Melissa Dagenais. Elyse Bennet's next attempt was denied by Olivia Scott, before Tanya Boychuk unleashed a beautiful shot that Dagenais once again gathered.

As the pressure mounted, so did the frustration. Chloe Minas received the Roses' first yellow card for a challenge on DB Pridham, while Evelyn Badu picked up the second after an aggressive tackle following her earlier defensive fouls.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with the Roses and the Rapid sharing possession almost evenly. The Roses finally found a breakthrough in the 89th minute when Elyse Bennet converted from the penalty spot. What was remarkable, however, was that despite registering 19 shots, that penalty was their only goal. Melissa Dagenais, along with the Roses' own wayward finishing, kept the ball out for the rest of the match.

Throughout the match, it was clear that the Roses know what they are doing. They consistently found and created opportunities, with their passing and movement standing out, led by strong performances from Elyse Bennet, Chloe Minas, and Marilou Harvey. Even the fouls were understandable, if avoidable, given the aggressive approach of the Ottawa Rapid. What lingers after this match is how the Roses will regroup after a

 frustrating tie and an even tougher loss to make sure they hold on to that number two spot.