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The 2025 Women’s Inter-Provincial Championship finalists face Calgary Wild FC for a place in the inaugural W Canadian Championship semifinals

CS Mont-Royal Outremont will make history tonight when the club takes on Calgary Wild FC in the inaugural W Canadian Championship quarterfinals, marking the first time the Quebec side will face Northern Super League opposition in official competition.

The Griffons earned their place in the national tournament by reaching the 2025 Women’s Inter-Provincial Championship Final, securing one of two spots available through the Premier Soccer Leagues Canada pathway. Now, the club has an opportunity to test itself against one of Canada’s professional teams with a place in the semifinals on the line.

For head coach Sidi Mohamed Farah, simply reaching this stage is the result of years of work throughout the club.

“It means a lot,” he said. “We are building this club from the youth ranks up, and reaching the Inter-Provincial Championship Final two years in a row was already a landmark for us. To turn that into a spot in the first-ever W Canadian Championship, that’s history.”

“It’s proof that what we’re building at CS MRO isn’t just about winning a title, it’s about putting our players and our program on the national map thanks to all the people that are working on and off the pitch.”

Tonight’s matchup also presents an opportunity to measure themselves against fully professional opposition. Rather than viewing that as an obstacle, the coaching staff sees it as a chance for the squad to grow.

“What excites me is the honesty of it,” Farah said. “There’s no ambiguity in a match like this; you’re tested against a fully professional standard, and you find out exactly where you stand.”

“I want them to walk away knowing they can compete at that level. I want them to feel the speed of play, the intensity, the decision-making under pressure and realize that gap isn’t as far as they might think. That’s the kind of experience that changes how a player sees her own ceiling.”

Preparing for a knockout match against professional opposition hasn’t changed the club’s identity, only its attention to detail.

“The principles don’t change,” said Farah. “What changes is the margin for error. Against a pro side, transitions punish you faster, so our work on defensive shape and quick recovery becomes even more central. Mentally, we try to keep the group focused on their abilities rather than the opponent’s status; respect them, but don’t play the name on the jersey.”

The introduction of the W Canadian Championship has also created a direct connection between the women’s pathway and the professional game in Canada, something the coach believes will have a lasting impact.

“It tells them the pathway is real,” he said. “For years, the ceiling for a semi-pro player in Quebec or anywhere outside the NSL felt fixed. This competition says: if you perform, there’s a stage waiting for you, and a professional club will have to take you seriously for a minimum of ninety minutes. That’s a powerful thing to put in front of young players — it changes how they train, how they see their own potential.”

As his players prepare to walk onto the pitch tonight, Farah hopes there is one thing going through their minds:

Belief.

“We want them to remember and know they’ve earned the right to be on that pitch. To give the best they have and enjoy it while showcasing their abilities. Not intimidated but fully present. The result will take care of itself.”

CS Mont-Royal Outremont faces Calgary Wild FC tonight at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT at ATCO Field, with a place in the inaugural W Canadian Championship semifinals at stake.

Congratulations once again to CS Mont-Royal Outremont on earning a place in the inaugural W Canadian Championship, and best of luck in tonight’s quarterfinal against Calgary Wild FC.