Our men return home from Winnipeg with their heads held high and hand Burnaby FC their first defeat of the season. Our women’s team comes off a bye-week and also secures three points. Our first six point week of the season sets us up well for Saturday’s matches back home at Swangard.
This week’s opponent
Saturday, May 17
- TSS Rovers Women v Nanaimo United FC Women @ Swangard at 12:00pm
- TSS Rovers Men v Nanaimo United FC Men @ Swangard at 2:30pm
Saturday we welcome Nanaimo United (formerly Harbourside) back to Swangard. Our keeper Cal Weir will be keen to start against his old side who are looking for their first win of the season. Nanaimo have struggled to score this year, netting only one marker in five games while conceding nine. After last week’s statement wion against Burnaby FC, our men’s team sits one point off of league leaders, Kamloops United and we need to relentlessly chase points now.
On the women’s side, NUFC do have a win on the board but dropped points last week against Langley United after conceding a late goal to Chelsey Hannesson’s outfit. Our team is growing into form with good chemistry and incisive attacking securing the win against Burnaby FC last weekend. The women’s division is tougher than ever, each game a new test for our women.
Both our teams come into this match with decent form. Can we secure another six points? Come out to Swangard and find out!
Last week’s recaps
May 7, 2025
Canadian Championship Preliminary Round
Valour 1-0 Rovers
Match report by Corey Almond
It was time to do it again. If you were at Swangard Stadium on April 19th, just over two years ago, you need no reminding of the heroics that night. TSS Rovers punched above their weight to defeat professional outfit Valour in arguably the club’s greatest game.
Now, it was time to have another go. This time in Manitoba rather than British Columbia, Valour now with the home advantage. Would that count for much on a night when the Winnipeg Jets opened their playoff series against the Dallas Stars just 10km away?
It was a sparse crowd, but compared to playing at a raucous Swangard Stadium, it was an advantage Valour were happy to have.
There was nothing stopping a respectable contingent of TSS Rovers supporters from making the trip, though. Fans were eager to see their team create another moment of Canadian Championship history, while the home team were looking to amend the embarrassment of 2023.
Throughout the first half at the Princess Auto Stadium, it was difficult to distinguish between the professionals and the semi-professionals as both teams had excellent chances.
Valour were the first to threaten through Ressurreicao in the fourth minute, but he was denied by an excellent Cal Weir save. Then in the 39th minute, TSS had their best chance of the night thanks to impressive play by lone striker Lowell Wright. Playing up top on your own can be a difficult task, especially with limited chances, but the former Cavalry man did well to get his shot away from the edge of the area, only to be denied by a flying Eleias Himaras in the Valour goal.
As expected, Valour had more of the ball in the first half, with a couple of good chances to show for it. TSS defended smartly, doing their best to counterattack and utilize their set pieces.
Of all the professional teams TSS could face in this competition, Valour would be the one. They were a team lacking in confidence who came into this game without a league win and with just two goals scored in their four games played. Their poor start to the season almost continued when Danylo Smychenko had his header cleared off the line ten minutes after the restart.
But Valour were desperate to progress, and after holding off a determined TSS, they got their goal. Shaun Hundal found Ressurreicao in a pocket of space on the edge of the box before the Portuguese forward slotted past the unmoved Weir.
TSS remained in the game thanks to Weir, who made several excellent stops to deny Valour a second. A deserved equalizer almost came in the dying embers of the match. Lucianno Keramen’s far-post header looked destined for the back of the net, only for Himaras to bundle away the effort. Keramen was certain that the ball crossed the line, but his appeals were muted.
After one more fantastic Weir save, the game concluded, and Valour were victorious. TSS couldn’t have done much more on the night. They created chances, defended well, and were beaten by a moment of quality. While they’ll miss out on a lucrative tie against the Vancouver Whitecaps, they’ll feel confident in the fact that they once again went toe-to-toe with a Canadian Premier League team.
May 10, 2025
Women’s Team
Burnaby Rovers
After a bye week, the women’s team were back in action taking on Burnaby FC. The Eagles came into the match after a slow start to the season, but they jumped off the mark with a Camille Berg goal in the 22’ beating debutant Ashely Strand with a chipped volley from the top of the box.
We responded with a beautiful Katie Bishop goal at the half, after a gorgeous passage of build play sent Bish in on goal, and she finished from the top of the box through the legs of keeper Sarah Loewen.
Delana Friesen has been hungry for goals since returning from her successful pro stint in Ireland, and Saturday she finally opened her account with a beautiful goal from a through ball from former Treaty United teammate Erin van Dolder which was flicked on by Claire Ye. The winner came at 72′ and sealed a delicious away victory for the Rovers.
Debut: Ashley Strand
Men’s Team
Burnaby 0-3 Rovers
Coming off a gutting loss in Winnipeg our boys had a quick turnaround and needed to make a statement in the league to chase the chance of playing in the Canadian Championship again next year. Coming into the match only two teams remained undefeated in League 1 – Kamloops and Burnaby.
We started strong. Josh Jones set up Michael Hennessy for the first goal of the match, as Hennessy carved through a couple of defenders and slotted home the opener with confidence.
The game unfolded at pace, and Cal Weir made an important stop in the 29’ to regain control of the game and slow the pace a bit. As the second half progressed he denied Luke Norman a chance in the 55’. Defense stayed solid for the whole game and substitute Lucianno Keramen who is growing into his role with the Rovers attack. He was keen to erase the memory of his header which was cleared off the line in Winnipeg mid week and he hit his redemption arc at 89’ Kian Proctor led the way with a surging left side run and crossed the ball neatly to Keramen who poked it home with authority. There was no coming back for Burnaby after that and Ivan Mejia got on the end of another Proctor pass for his fourth goal of the year in stoppage time.
Between both matches, it was our first six point haul of the season.
Giving opportunities
TSS Rovers is a football club built on support. Our fans provide ruckus in Visible support for our teams on the pitch, our owners provide support for the system ability of the initiative. And we work together to get back to the community.
Rovers Player Development fund
The club maintains a player development fund which helps make Rovers football accessible for our players who need an extra little bit of help. You can provide tax deductible donations to this fund through Charitable Impact, our philanthropic partner. In the past donations to this account have covered emergency player expenses including transportation, and phone expenses.
You can donate to the player development fund at this link.
Swanguardians Prideraiser
Every June, the Swanguardians participate in PrideRaiser, a North America wide initiative to support LGBTQ+ charities and causes during Pride month. Every year sine 2022 the Swanguardians have supported Rainbow Refugee, an organization that helps settle LGBTQ+ refugees fleeing persecution and moving to Canada.
You can join this initiative. Pledge per goal and help provide material support and meaningful welcome to refugees seeking safety in Canada.
Juan de Fuca Plate standings
The Juan de Fuca PLate is a supporter-created and owned trophy that is awarded to the best overall club in BC League 1. The club with the most combined points at the end of the season is crowned the Club Champion and receives the Plate.
In the League 1 era the Plate was won by Varsity FC in 2022 and then the Vancouver Whitecaps won back to back club championships in 2023 and 2024.
This year is shaping up to be the most competitive yet. After most teams have played five matches, here are the current standings. With our six points on the weekend, we have moved into fourth place, within striking distance of the top of the table.
| Altitude | 21 |
| Unity | 18 |
| Langley | 17 |
| Rovers | 16 |
| Rise/Whitecaps | 13 |
| Evolution | 13 |
| Kamloops | 13 |
| Burnaby | 10 |
| Nanaimo | 5 |
