MATCHDAY STORYLINES
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
AFC Toronto continues its demanding west coast road trip with a quick turnaround match against Calgary Wild FC on Saturday afternoon. After flying to Vancouver early Tuesday and securing a thrilling 3-2 win over Vancouver Rise FC on Wednesday night, the team traveled to Calgary on Thursday with only one training session and limited recovery time before kickoff. It marks the club’s shortest window between matches this season, a test of depth, resilience, and mental toughness.
“Both Vancouver and Calgary are great at set pieces and we're going to have to be solid there.” said head coach Marko Milanovic. “We're going to look at video, go over some of the details, and make sure [a late-game goal] doesn't happen again. Late in games, obviously concentration is a bit of an issue as well as players get tired so we have to be even more locked in to defend them well.”
A STRONG RESPONSE IN VANCOUVER
Redemption was the theme on Wednesday as AFC Toronto bounced back from their 4-0 home loss to Ottawa with a gutsy 3-2 win over Vancouver Rise FC at Swangard Stadium. Captain Emma Regan opened the scoring just two minutes in, thrilling her hometown crowd with a long-range stunner. Kaylee Hunter added to the lead before halftime, and midfielder Nikayla Small delivered what would become the game-winner in the 70th minute – her first career NSL goal.
STANDING OUT
The trio of Regan, Hunter, and Small stepped up in a big way midweek, not only contributing goals but setting the tone with their leadership, energy, and execution. For Hunter, who hails from Calgary, Saturday’s match offers a special homecoming moment against her hometown club, where she’ll look to build on her already strong form.
Kaylee Hunter on her playing her first pro game in Calgary: “It’s very special. This is where I grew up playing soccer. It’s where I fell in love with the game. Now to be back here playing professionally is like a dream come true. I'll have a lot of family and friends at this game as well. Hopefully, I can use their energy from the crowd and put on a good performance. But above all, I want to contribute to the team and go out there and get the three points.”
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
KEYS TO THE MATCH - BUILT ON CHARACTER
After a short week filled with travel and minimal rest, mentality will be everything. With no time to dwell or reset, the group must once again tap into the collective grit that helped them secure three points in Vancouver. Repeating their compact shape, sharp execution in the final third, and focus in set-piece defense will be vital, especially late in the match when fatigue sets in.
Set-piece defense continues to be a point of emphasis after conceding late goals in recent matches. Calgary’s attacking threats, including Meikayla Moore, have proven they can capitalize on loose moments. As this is AFC’s third game in seven days, emotional control will matter just as much as tactics. Energy management – knowing when to press, when to slow tempo, and when to absorb pressure – will be vital. If Toronto can impose their tempo and stay composed in the face of fatigue, they give themselves a strong chance to leave Calgary with a second straight win.
In their first meeting back on May 1, AFC Toronto earned their inaugural franchise win in a 2- 1 result over Calgary Wild FC. Esther Okoronkwo found the back of the net twice, capitalizing on passes from Nikki Small and Victoria Pickett, while AFC’s backline held strong despite a late push from Calgary.
As AFC Toronto looks to add another three points in the season series against Calgary, this match will be another benchmark of how the team continues to grow, bounce back, and fight through adversity.