'We like that people might be underestimating us': Tides surge past Rapid for home opener win

Consider yourself warned, Northern Super League: the Halifax Tides are a club to be reckoned with. Their convincing opening performance, which saw head coach Stephen Hart's side un-fang Ottawa Rapid FC 3-1 at home on Saturday, speaks volumes as to how they've tried to improve—both in movement and in mind—since last year's squad finished bottom of the league table.

Make no mistake: one match does not maketh a contender.

But the Tides, after an off-season of re-building, looked confident and organized at the Wanderers Grounds. They dictated much of the match. And they converted on their chances, a facet which eluded them through much of 2025. Players said that this year already feels different and it certainly looked different to supporters.

And they're okay with being underestimated given last year's struggles.

"We don't mind being the underdog for now," attacker Jordyn Rhodes told HFX Football Post in an exclusive interview.

"Obviously, after having the year they had last year, we don't want that to happen again. We think we're going to surprise a lot of people as well. We believe what we've been training for and the group we have. I think we like that people might be underestimating us because that's always fun."

Tides set a club record for goals in a match

There's no doubt that the Tides started on the front foot on Saturday, registering their first shot in the fourth minute courtesy of full-back Julianne Vallerand, who was a tsunami of movement along Halifax's right flank.

Although there were some moments of miscommunication, with good passes wasted by poor runs, it felt deserved that the Tides went ahead thanks to centre-back Addy Weichers, who powered a header into the back of the net in the 38th minute off of a corner kick.

Later, with Ottawa pressing, Hart shuffled his players and brought on attackers Kat Jordan and Jordyn Rhodes, and was instantly rewarded as Rhodes—who offers a different profile from the club's other strikers—got on the end of one of Saorla Miller's cutbacks.

Vallerand scored the insurance marker in the 84th minute, putting her side up 3-1 while setting a club record for goals scored in a match.

Speaking afterwards, Hart complimented his substitutes on making the difference when it mattered.

"Jordyn and Kat came on and had an immediate impact," he said. "As a matter of fact, all the subs were excellent. They scored on us for what I thought was a preventable goal, so there's still lots of work to do but we scored three goals, which we haven't been able to do in an entire season so I'm happy."

Despite being a defender, Vallerand was integral to Halifax's attack, linking up with Miller and midfielder Julia Benati for a number of lovely combinations, before scoring her goal. She finished with two out of the Tides' 18 shots.

Photographed in a Montréal Canadiens jersey before the match, Vallerand laughed when asked if she had a little extra boost thanks to La Sainte-Flanelle's strong start in the NHL playoffs.

"Honestly, yeah," she said. "I was just super happy and proud to be from Montréal.

“As much as I can, (I want to) join the attack and then defensively, do my job because that’s my first priority always.”

She certainly looked like the Tides' version of Lane Hutson, who scored the Canadiens' overtime winner on Friday night.

Different options help Hart see out the match

One of the issues Hart previously identified with last year's squad was that there were too many similar players. The club aimed to recruit different profiles this off-season in each position to offer their coach more choice depending on match situations.

That was very much in play on Saturday as, having worn down the Rapid defenders with ground-eaters like Syd Kennedy and Megumi Nakamura, Hart was able to bring on different stylistic players in Jordan and Rhodes.

A look at the striker position illustrates Hart's options. After taking off Nakamura, who profiles as a creator with an excellent work ethic, he had two profiles on his bench for No. 9s: Tiff Cameron and Rhodes. They each offer different advantages.

"I think, for me, I enjoy combinational play," Cameron told HFX Football Post of her style of play. "I enjoy getting the ball and making some movements in and behind, too, getting some players to work off me, support me. I like doing little flicks and little cool things."

Rhodes, meanwhile, describes herself as a more direct player.

"I like to be a target. If I had to pick one, I'd pick to be a target player," she said.

Well, it was a target player the Tides needed as Miller, who sent in half a dozen crosses, had struggled at times to find players in the box. Rhodes wasted no time in making herself known as she connected with Miller to score only minutes after coming off the bench. Her run was an excellent example of finding space.

But, as explained by Cameron, Hart may think a different option is better next match.

"I do love that there’s variety in the players that were brought it. It’s not always going to be the same thing. It’s where I come back to not being predictable," she said.

"With Jordyn’s qualities, they’re a little bit different than mine so it really depends on what Stephen wants. But we’re both motivated, we’re both ready, even Megumi, too, she was our top goal scorer last season.”

A feeling of collective calm across the squad

The Tides were the worst club defensively in 2025 as they conceded 43 goals—or 1.72 goals per match—across the campaign. Their first few months looked extremely shaky.

However, Saturday saw a much more composed side defensively. Their lines were tighter. The centre-back pairing of Weichers and Naya Cardoza, who made her professional debut after making 65 appearances for Brown University, looked solid.

"I think once we sorted a few things out, I thought the back line did really well. I thought (Vallerand) was fantastic defensively, she did well and kept it simple in possession," said Hart. "I thought the two centre-backs were excellent.

"We were in control, we were creating chances, we sort of stifled them a little bit because they're a very good team and they're hard to pin down."

Looking back to last year, it's hard to pinpoint a moment where it felt like the Tides stifled an opponent. Far too often, they were chasing the game instead of dictating it.

But things feel different this year, as they have from the beginning of pre-season: there's a feeling of calm across the squad that's hard to quantify.

"It's hard to describe," said Miller post-match when asked to explain how things were different.

"We went through a lot of tough times last year and we learned a lot from it. Just not only getting a win today, of course, that's amazing, but it felt different. The whole game, the whole thing, we just felt in control and prepared and like a new team in so many ways. That just gives us so much confidence going forward."

They'll be looking to translate that confidence into something more sustained across the season. But Saturday's performance bodes well for things to come.

Cover Photo Credit: Trevor MacMillan / Halifax Tides FC