Lauren Rowe and Nikki Small scored in the final ten minutes to secure a crucial draw for AFC Toronto against the current league leaders
Montréal, QC (September 10, 2026) – AFC Toronto scored twice in the final ten minutes to claim a 2-2 draw with Montreal Roses FC. Lauren Rowe and Nikki Small had the goals for Toronto. Earning one point, AFC Toronto (9-6-5) moves into second place in the Northern Super League table with 33 points.
Roses FC opened the scoring in the first half on Thursday, with Hailey Whitaker putting the finish on a corner kick set piece to give Montreal the lead. Coming out of the break, Toronto controlled the majority of possession, but was unable to find an equalizer. Later in the second half, Amandine Pierre-Louis doubled Montréal’s lead. Shortly after, Lauren Rowe got Toronto on the board. After an initial strike from Colby Barnett was blocked by Montreal’s defence, Rowe pounced on the loose ball and buried it for her ninth of the year. Nearing injury time, Nikki Small found the equalizer. Amidst a scramble, Victoria Pickett controlled the ball and found Toronto’s captain in the box, who converted her second of the year. Pickett earned her third assist of the year on the play.
“Really proud of the girls for making that comeback and how much heart and desire was shown in the second half,” said head coach Marko Milanović. “To come back like that, to have a chance to win the game later on was incredible and something we can definitely grow from and really take it as one of the most positive moments from the year, despite not getting the result.”
Captain Nikki Small: “After (Montreal’s) second goal, we didn’t put our heads down. I think that’s a testament to our culture and who we are as people.”
AFC Toronto remains on the road next weekend, set to face Halifax Tides FC at Wanderers Grounds. Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday, September 19 at 2 p.m. ET.
LAUREN ROWE: Lauren Rowe scored her ninth of the year on Thursday, tying Kaylee Hunter for third in the Northern Super League’s Golden Boot race.
NIKKI SMALL: Toronto captain Nikki Small has two goals and an assist this season.
VICTORIA PICKETT: Defender Victoria Pickett earned her third assist of the season on Thursday.
STADE BORÉALE: AFC Toronto remains undefeated at Laval’s Stade Boréale, with a 4-1-0 record all-time at the venue (including playoffs).
HEAD-TO-HEAD: AFC Toronto finishes the season series against Montreal Roses FC with a 1-2-2 record.
UP NEXT: AFC Toronto visits Halifax Tides FC at Wanderers Grounds on Saturday, September 19 at 2 p.m. ET (Available on CBC).
MATCH SUMMARY
AFC Toronto - 2 | Montreal Roses FC - 2
Venue: Stade Boréale
Referee: Sebastian Noshinravani
Assistants: André Pickler, Stéphanie Fortin
Fourth Official: Laura Hall
Referee Observer: Nathanaël De Wilde
SCORING SUMMARY
AFC Toronto: L. Rowe (82’), N. Small (88’)
Montreal Roses FC: H. Whitaker (18’), A. Pierre-Louis (79’)
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
24’ - Yellow: Sarah Rollins (AFC Toronto)
38’ - Yellow: Charlotte Bilbault (Montreal Roses FC)
83’ - Yellow: Nikki Small (AFC Toronto)
STARTING LINEUP & STATS
AFC Toronto Starting Lineup:
GK Sabrina D’Angelo (Welland, ON)
DF Victoria Pickett (Barrie, ON)
DF Sarah Rollins (Toronto, ON)
DF Shelina Zadorsky (London, ON)
MF Colby Barnett (USA)
MF Nyota Katembo (Montréal, QC)
MF Nikayla Small (Pickering, ON)
MF Sarah Stratigakis (Toronto, ON)
MF Cloey Uddenberg (Richmond Hill, ON)
FW Lauren Rowe (Conception Bay South, NL)
FW Lena Silano (USA)
Substitutes: Sierra Cota-Yarde (GK), Ashley Cathro (DF), Croix Soto (DF), Zoe Burns (MF), Zoe Hasenauer (MF), April Lantaigne (MF), Mia Fontana (FW), Gabriela Istocki* (FW)
*Youth Development Permit (YDP)
Total Shots: 9
Shots on Goal: 2
Fouls: 8
Offsides: 4
Corner Kicks: 3
Saves: 1
Video Highlights
Media can access video highlights from the match on the Northern Super League YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@NorthernSuperLeague
Photo Highlights
Media can access photo highlights from the match here.
Match Summary
A complete summary of the match facts and stats can be viewed at: www.afctoronto.ca/games/2026-09-10-montreal-toronto
More from the locker room:
Marko Milanović, on the goals against: “Disappointed with the two goals that we conceded because they both came on kind of broken set plays, second balls, something that we work on quite a bit, but Montreal did well to find the net on those. That's something we're disappointed with. And a little bit, maybe about 20, 25, 30 minutes of the first half, we just lacked a bit of energy. But, like I said, overall, very positive and very proud of the girls.”
Milanović, on the intensity of the match: “Second half, we changed things a little bit and became even more aggressive as a result. I thought the girls executed that extremely well and really kept their foot on the gas the entire second half. Even when we conceded the second goal, we still kept pushing and got rewarded for it.”
Captain Nikki Small, on the midfield battle: “As you saw it was a very physical game. And yeah, games are won and lost in the midfield. So I think that battle between both our midfields, obviously being some of the best midfields in this league, it was very good. And I think, yeah, as you see, the game came to a draw just because of how intense it was.”
Lauren Rowe, on Toronto’s goals: “In games where it’s very transitional, you just have to get a goal any way you can. It won’t be pretty, but you just got to keep pushing for it.”
Small, on the team’s fight: “(It’s) our culture. Day in and day out, we work hard for each other and obviously you're as strong as the last player on your bench. And I would say every single one of our players are strong and I think we can put in anyone and they're going to prove that they should be on that field. So I think that's a testament to what we build at York Lions Stadium day in and day out.”
Small, on the final stretch of the season: “It's going to be a dog fight. We're not going to give up. There's five games left and we're trying to get everything from those five games. So yeah, it's just going to be a dog fight.”