OTTAWA 鈥� Delaney Baie Pridham made Northern Super League history last Saturday, becoming the first player to record a hat trick 鈥� but it was who was in the crowd that made it unforgettable.
The 27-year-old Ottawa Rapid FC forward had more than 30 family and friends in the stands for the 4-0 win over AFC Toronto, including her 94-year-old grandfather, Pops 鈥� a rare and cherished sight for the Canadian-American, who grew up in the United States and rarely had the chance to play in front of loved ones.
While Pridham had hoped her grandfather would make the game, she wasn鈥檛 sure 鈥� 鈥渉e hasn鈥檛 been doing so great,鈥� she said.
Walter Pridham, who lives in a long-term care facility just outside Toronto, made the trip by Uber with one of his caregivers. His granddaughter didn鈥檛 know he was in the crowd until after the final whistle.
When she recalled the moment, her voice caught with emotion and the words momentarily stuck in her throat.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a strong guy but you never know in the mornings if he might be OK or not and able to come,鈥� Pridham said. 鈥淚t was a pretty emotional day.鈥�
It鈥檚 exactly those kinds of moments that drew Pridham to the newly formed Northern Super League.
鈥淚鈥檓 proud to be representing my family and the country they鈥檙e from,鈥� said Pridham. 鈥淎nd I love that they get to see me play. They can watch our games on TSN or CBC and some in person.鈥�
Pridham, who played for the Santa Clara Broncos during her collegiate career and later went on to play in Iceland and Sweden, has had an immediate impact on her new team.
Her seven goals on the season not only lead the team, but the league.
鈥淲e have an attacker who really, really wants to score goals,鈥� said Rapid FC head coach Katrine Pedersen. 鈥淚 think what really also sets her apart is her attitude and training. She wants repetitions, she wants to learn, she鈥檚 curious and has that desire to improve every single day. That鈥檚 what makes a successful football player.鈥�
Ottawa (3-2-2) sits third in the six-team league and is still coming together on the pitch. With players from different playing backgrounds, Pridham admits it鈥檚 taken some time for their styles to click, but says the team is making progress with each game.
鈥淚 feel like everyone has been really open to coming together and accepting and trusting the process,鈥� said Pridham. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been trusting what the coaches have put forward. I think it鈥檚 a strength to have different mindsets and coming together and building off everyone鈥檚 strengths.鈥�
Ottawa hosts first-place Montreal Roses FC on Sunday afternoon, looking for its first win in three tries against its league rival. The Rapid are 0-1-1 against Montreal this season, but Pedersen believes sticking to the game plan will give her team a solid chance.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about being brave, both with the ball and without the ball and trusting our identity and the way we shape it as a team,鈥� said Pedersen. 鈥淎nd then us sticking together and staying connected in the different facets of the game.鈥�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2025.
Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press
