NSL round-up: What Weeks 3 and 4 revealed as Ottawa put the pressure on leaders Montréal | OneFootball

Through four weeks, the Northern Super League (NSL) already feels less like an opening stretch and more like the start of an identity reveal.

Week 3 delivered statements. Week 4 delivered pressure tests.

Every result seemed to answer a different question: who can dominate, who can adapt, and who can survive when momentum swings. The biggest answer so far might be Ottawa.

Ottawa score six in double wins

What started as a strong opening to the season has become something more convincing. Ottawa followed up their 5–2 Week 2 performance with a ruthless 4–0 win over Vancouver and then backed it up days later with a controlled 2–0 result over Halifax to move to three straight victories. Only Montréal sit ahead of them in the early table, and suddenly that upcoming meeting between the two feels less like another regular season fixture and more like an early measuring stick.

Against Vancouver in Week 3, Ottawa looked relentless. It was not simply the scoreline, it was how little breathing room they allowed.

Kayla Adamek opened the scoring, but the match quickly became a showcase of Ottawa’s movement and efficiency in attack. DB Pridham grabbed a brace before half-time and remained involved throughout, creating the fourth goal for Sadie Waite. Vancouver goalkeeper Morgan McAslan produced several important moments to keep the score respectable, but Ottawa controlled territory, tempo and nearly every dangerous phase of play.

Week 4 presented a different challenge. Rain. a stubborn Halifax side, and less space.

Halifax actually started brighter and looked capable of disrupting Ottawa’s rhythm, with Syd Kennedy crashing an effort against the crossbar early. But good teams often win without dominating. Ottawa absorbed pressure, waited for moments and found them through Sadie Waite before Choo Hyo-joo sealed the match after reacting fastest to a rebound. Three wins in a row, earned in completely different ways.

If Ottawa are forcing themselves into the conversation, Montréal still own it.

Montréal keep NSL top spot

Week 3’s 1–0 win over AFC Toronto felt like the kind of performance that does not always make headlines but often defines seasons.

Toronto created chances and repeatedly tested Anna Karpenko, who turned into the difference-maker. There was even a brief moment where Toronto thought they had found the breakthrough before the goal was ruled out. Montréal stayed composed and eventually found their opening through an Evelyn Badu pass that released Elyse Bennett for the winner.

Then came Calgary. The Roses looked set to continue their perfect run after Lisa Pechersky gave them an early lead. Calgary had other ideas. Katelin Talbert kept the Wild alive long enough for Mya Jones, returning after a lengthy injury absence, to announce herself with a late equaliser. Montréal responded immediately and appeared to have escaped through Claire Monyard’s 90th-minute strike.

Calgary, however, refused to accept the script.

Jones found another in stoppage time and handed Montréal their first real wobble of the season while preserving their unbeaten record.

Reigning champions Vancouver earn important win

Then there is Vancouver.

The defending champions entered this stretch searching for something after heavy defeats and inconsistent performances.

Week 4 may not have been dominant, but it felt important.

At Wanderers Grounds, Halifax generated opportunities and looked capable of controlling stretches of the game. Jordyn Rhodes eventually levelled after Jessica De Filippo had opened the scoring for Vancouver.

But unlike previous weeks, Vancouver answered immediately.

Tori Tumeth won the penalty. Quinn converted it. Vancouver held on.

It wasn’t flashy by any means. Just composed enough to secure a first win of the season and stop questions from growing louder.

Four weeks in, the table is beginning to separate. Montréal remain first. Ottawa are closing. Vancouver finally have life. Calgary showed they are difficult to kill off. Halifax have looked more competitive than their results suggest.

Maybe that is the biggest takeaway. No one looks settled yet. Every team still feels one result away from flipping the script.

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