At the halfway point, they sit comfortably second place with a 7-3-4 record, 24 points, a league-best 10 goals conceded, and a +6 goal differential. While other clubs have made tactical adjustments midseason, Montreal have stayed committed to their base 4-4-2, leaning into continuity and structure to grind out results. The strategy has worked — no team has been harder to break down.
A big reason for that is the collective defensive effort across the squad. The center-back pairing has been stable, and fullbacks have been efficient both in buildup and recovery. Lucy Cappadona and Haley Whitaker have been constants on the right side of defense. McGill alumni Stephanie Hill has stepped in at left CB, and Anna Karpenko has firmly won the starting job, posting four clean sheets and 29 saves so far. Her consistency has given the team confidence to sit deeper when needed and absorb pressure, and she’s also been sharp coming off her line. Ahead of her, midfielders Allie Hess and Charlotte Bilbault have been ever-present, anchoring the middle of the park with nearly identical statistical outputs. While Hess provides steady control and a cool head, Bilbault brings bite — often playing on the edge but vital to the team’s defensive shape.
There have been shifts elsewhere on the pitch. Co-Captain Tanya Boychuk has filled in at right midfield, where she’s adapted well and added balance, while Claire Monyard has looked sharp up top. Latifah Abdu has been a revelation, offering pace and directness that stretches opposing back lines and firing more shots than any of her teammates. The summer addition of defender Olivia Mbala brings more depth to the back line, while South Korean attacker Kang Chae-rim adds a spark in the final third as Montreal look to sharpen their attacking edge.
Roses celebrate in front of a home crowd at Stade Boreal | Photo Credit: Roses FC
In terms of departures, Natalie Mokbel (Long Beach University) and Savannah Chenail’s (SMU) academic commitments have thinned the squad slightly, and the long-term injury status of Leas remains unclear. Still, with the league’s most well-drilled defense, reliable midfield core, and a clear tactical identity, Montreal remains a difficult matchup and serious contender as the playoff race heats up.
Off the field, Montreal’s newly erected Stade Boreale is averaging 3,765 fans per game. There has been some turbulence between the Supporters’ Group, the Ultra Violets, and club leadership over political expression and treatment by third-party security guards, although the relationship is reportedly improving.