VANCOUVER – Being first is rarely easy.

Navigating the first season of the Northern Super League came with unique challenges, each of which brought a lesson, said Vancouver Rise captain Samantha Chang.

“There’s a lot of mental, emotional toll that takes on you,” she said. “We had to deal with slumps of not scoring and getting scored on and injuries. We really have dealt with a lot of things happening to us this season. We’re just trying to learn from that.”

After finishing the regular season third in the six-team league, the Rise are now looking to put all those lessons toward their first-ever NSL playoff game when they host the Ottawa Rapid on Tuesday.

“Playoffs always means a bit more than a regular game,” Chang said. “You’re one of four teams left and you’re fighting for a champions

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