AFC Toronto Claims Back-to-Back Road Wins with 2-1 Victory Over Calgary

Midfielder Nikayla Small scores twice to lift AFC Toronto past the Wild

Calgary, AB (June 14, 2025) – AFC Toronto earned back-to-back road wins with a composed 2-1 victory over Calgary Wild FC on Saturday afternoon, powered by a clinical first-half brace from midfielder Nikayla Small. Small opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a crafty, low strike through the legs of Calgary goalkeeper Jackie Burns. Less than 10 minutes later, she doubled the lead with a brilliant left-footed finish into the top corner, showcasing her precision in the final third. Toronto generated 11 shots and six on target in a dominant opening half.

Despite it being their third match in eight days, AFC Toronto came out strong against a Calgary side playing their first game in over a week. The Wild found a response in the 53rd minute when Danielle Steer redirected a ball past Sofia Manner to cut the lead in half, but Toronto held steady to close out the match. The result marks the second time in 44 days AFC Toronto has edged Calgary 2-1, continuing their climb up the Northern Super League table.

“I just loved how we opened the game. Despite having a really tough week physically, and the travel – this is our third game in seven days, we've traveled all over the country,” said head coach Marko Milanovic. “I was really pleased with how we started physically from that standpoint of being on the front foot. That resulted in getting us an early lead. That definitely helped as legs started to go in the second half.”

Milanovic on Nikki Small’s performance: “I've been saying it all season: Nikki is one of our best players every game. If you see what happens off the field with her – how much she studies the game, how many hours she spends doing video, what kind of details she goes into to improve – it's quite impressive... I can't say enough, an absolute warrior and a phenomenal teammate off the field as well.”

Next, AFC Toronto returns home to York Lions Stadium in Toronto to face Halifax Tides FC on Saturday, June 21 at 4 pm ET.

IN THE WILD: AFC Toronto are undefeated in the second match of their five-game season series against Calgary Wild FC.

NIKAYLA SMALL: AFC Toronto’s midfielder notched both of the club’s goals, matching team-leading goal scorer Esther Okoronkwo’s season tally of three.

UP NEXT: AFC Toronto are back home to face Halifax Tides FC on Saturday, June 21 at 4 pm ET (Stream on CBC Gem and NSL.ca).

MATCH SUMMARY

AFC Toronto - 2 Calgary Wild FC - 1

Venue: McMahon Stadium
Referee: Isabelle Duclos
Assistants: Camille Raymond, Megan Opatril Fourth Official: Angelina Baldino
Referee Observer: Sheena Dickson Attendance: 3,977

SCORING SUMMARY
AFC Toronto: Nikayla Small (18’), Nikayla Small (26’) Calgary Wild FC: Danielle Steer (53’)

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

14’ - Yellow: Emma Regan (AFC Toronto)
20’ - Yellow: Grace Stordy (Calgary Wild FC)
43’ - Yellow: Meggie Dougherty Howard (Calgary Wild FC)

STARTING LINEUP & STATS

AFC Toronto Starting Lineup:

GK Sofia Manner (Finland)
DF Croix Soto (USA)
DF Kaela Hansen (Burnaby, BC) DF Sarah Rollins (Toronto, ON) MF Nikayla Small (Pickering, ON) MF Emma Regan (Burnaby, BC)

MF Colby Barnett (USA)
MF Victoria Pickett (Barrie, ON) FW Kaylee Hunter (Calgary, AB) FW Shaina Ashouri (USA)
FW Esther Okoronkwo (Nigeria)

Substitutes: Sierra Cota-Yarde (GK), Hong Hye-ji (DF), Ashley Cathro (DF), April Lantaigne (MF), Aoi Kizaki (MF), Cloey Uddenberg (MF), Nyota Katembo (MF), Jade Kovacevic (FW)

Total Shots: 17 Shots on Goal: 7 Fouls: 13 Offsides: Corner-Kicks: 5 Saves: 1

Video Highlights of Opening Game

Media can access video highlights from the opening match on the Northern Super League YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NorthernSuperLeague

Match Summary

A complete summary of the match facts and stats can be viewed at:

https://www.nsl.ca/games/calgary-toronto-2025-06-14

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Nikayla Small on her latest motivation: “I would say our loss at home. That was very embarrassing and I never want to experience that again. So, you might as well win whenever you can.”

Marko Milanovic on having one of the youngest teams in the league: “We believe in our young players – we have all the confidence in them, whether it's Kaylee or Sarah or Nikki or April or any one of those players that are 17, 18, 19, 20. We are a place for those young players to come in and develop, and we're looking forward to having some more of them in the future, not just from Ontario, but hopefully from other provinces as well.”