We are out to Cloverdale Athletic Park on Saturday to face Unity FC. Unity’s women’s team has traditionally been one of the powerhouses of League 1, but never managed to top their rivals, the Vancouver Whitecaps. Now rebranded as the Rise, Unity put the boots to the national champions last week with a 6-4 win on the strength of a brace by striker and former Rover Jenna Baxter (2018, 2024). That victory followed a 4-0 victory against Burnaby FC in their opener. Our women’s team will face one of their toughest tests yet.
On the men’s side, Unity has been less consistent. After opening their season with a 4-0 loss to Burnaby, the side beat the Whitecaps last weekend 3-2, with two goals from Jordan Low and one from League 1 veteran Victory Shumbusho. We will look to right the pirate ship against Unity. Former Rovers Grant Verhoeven (2022-23) and Naseeb Bains (2022-23) will likely line up against us.
Last week’s recaps
Match reports by Corey Almond.
Women’s Team
Rovers 1-2 Langley United
Full Match Replay
The game began in an unextraordinary fashion, with both teams doing little on the ball as the game failed to get going. It took until the 26th minute for the first shot on target; Maya Smith struck but without the necessary power to beat Kayla Klim in the Langley goal.
Langley’s first shot on goal would prove more effective. As TSS failed to deal with a looping ball into the box, former Rover Shanya Dhindsa pounced, poking the ball into the bottom right corner to give the away side the advantage 38 minutes in.
Four minutes later, TSS were level. Klim saved well from a powerful Delana Friesen shot, but Ye was on hand to slot home the equaliser.
With little of the first half to go, Ye could have had a second in as many minutes. Her 35-yard free kick looked to have beaten Klim, but the crossbar came to Langley’s rescue, denying TSS a quick turnaround.
An energetic end to the first half was not transferred to the second half. Both teams failed to create, and the game became a scrappy affair.
However, with 12 minutes to go, Langley clinched it through an element of good luck. Langley’s number 16, Daniela Ramirez, looked to have overhit her cross, only for the ball to come dropping quickly, wrong-footing TSS keeper Talia Gagnon and landing in the back of the net for 2-1.
Debuts: Talia Gagnon, Erin Bhandal
Men’s Team
Rovers 1-3 Langley United
Full Match Replay
After defeat at Kamloops last weekend, Langley were looking to get off the mark in their first-ever L1BC season. A trip to Swangard Stadium against an unbeaten TSS Rovers side would prove a good test.
Nine minutes into this one, that test had grown in difficulty as the home side took the lead through Michael Hennessy. The TSS forward converted from close range to bag his fourth goal in three games and continue his stellar start to the season.
Despite going behind, Langley looked up for the challenge and quickly drew level thanks to a fantastic individual effort from former Unity FC man Joel Badger. He picked up the loose ball on the right-hand side before a fine run culminated in an even better finish past TSS keeper Cal Weir.
After a good spell of pressure following their goal, Langley took the lead in an unorthodox fashion. Receiving a pass close to his goal line, Weir struck his clearance straight into Langley’s Brody Thomas, the ball deflecting off the Langley captain and straight into the TSS net for 2-1.
Langley now had the lead and continued their attacking domination. Jonathan Silva’s header was well cleared off the line by Shaya Zarjampour just after the half-hour mark. Eventually, though, their pressure paid off. A delightful cross to the far post by Joey Buchanan was met by the head of Joel Badger, who guided it over Weir and into the far corner to make it three for Langley.
The second half lacked the same intensity as the first. TSS head coach Brendan Teeling made three halftime substitutes to get a response from his team, and while they looked like the better team in the second period, they failed to create too many clear-cut chances.
Their best efforts were through Ivan Mejia and Justin Pena who both went close but were both denied by Langley keeper Matheus De Souza, who was excellent throughout.
Debut: Sacko Konate
News Shorts
Former TSS Rovers made history this week with the launch of the Northern Super League. Keeper Kirstin Tynan (2022-24) (pictured) was in the squad for Vancouver Rise as they took on Calgary WIld FC, where Tilly James (2024) was on the bench. In Toronto, Tanya Boychuk (2018) scored the first ever goal for Montreal Roses as they beat AFC Toronto 1-0. Tanya’s former teammates on that 2018 WPSL squad. Emma Regan and Kaela Hansen both started for Toronto, while Ashley Cathro was an unused sub.
Next week in the NSL, Stella Downing’s Ottawa Rapid will play their first match. Stella played for us from 2022-24 and is a dynamic and tricky winger with speed to burn. Will we see yet another NSL debut for former Rovers?
Mia Pante who played for us in 2022, made her first appearance for AS Roma this week in the Italian Serie A.
Zach Verhoven has become the latest former Rover to move to the second division NPL in Australia,signing with New Lambton FC in the NPL Northern NSW. Zach was a fan favourite in our USL days in 2018-19 before embarking on a good career in the CPL, making 94 appearances with Pacific FC, Athletico Ottawa and Vancouver FC.
In week 2 Ivan Mejia and Michael Hennessey were named to the League 1 BC team of the week after their scintillating performances against the Whitecaps.
Support the Next Generation of Players—On and Off the Pitch
At our club, we believe talent should never be held back by circumstance. That’s why we’re proud to have the TSS Rovers Community Giving Fund as part of our club. In it is the Player Development Fund which is an initiative that is focussed on helping aspiring footballers cover the most basic and essential costs that often go unseen: food, travel, gear, and support services.
Too many young players struggle quietly just to make it to training. By contributing to this fund, you’re not just buying a bus ticket or a meal—you’re giving a player the chance to focus fully on their development, free from financial stress. You’re giving them time, confidence, and belief.
Every dollar goes directly to supporting athletes in our community and beyond—those working to reach their highest level but who need a hand to get there.
Whether it’s a one-time donation or a monthly recurring gift, your support builds something bigger: a more inclusive, more human approach to player development. One where no young athlete is left behind because of economic barriers.
Donate today and become part of a movement that grows the game, one life at a time.
Donate here:
https://my.charitableimpact.com/groups/player-development-supporting-player-access-league1
