AFC Toronto Secures 1-0 Win in Halifax
American Colby Barnett earned her first NSL career goal in the 1-0 victory over the Halifax Tides FC
Halifax, NS (May 17, 2025) – AFC Toronto extended its unbeaten streak to three matches with a 1-0 victory over the Halifax Tides FC on a cold and rainy Saturday afternoon at Wanderer Grounds in Halifax. Midfielder Colby Barnett notched her first Northern Super League goal early in the first half, the lone goal in the match as Toronto leaves the maritimes with all three points.
AFC struck early on a flying start with a fifth-minute goal from Colby Barnett, who finished a well-worked team move initiated by Nikki Small. The goal came off a throw-in, with Small delivering a perfectly placed ball into the box for Barnett, to tuck away her first of the season. As Halifax pushed for an equalizer late in the match, Sarah Rollins, making her first career start, made a crucial intervention in the 80th minute, getting a boot in to deny Tides forward Christabel Oduro a clear chance, helping Toronto preserve the clean sheet and secure all three points.
“We continue to work and get better. We're not too concerned with our record at this point - I said that after losses and I'm saying that after wins, we're just gonna continue to get better,” said head coach Marko Milanovic. “As we put more work in, it looks better and better each week.”
Colby Barnett on first career goal: “Nikki put in the most perfect ball that she could have. In my mind I was just like: ‘do not miss this, do not miss this’. I was really happy to be on the other side and it definitely feels nice.I get why the strikers like it so much.”
Next, AFC Toronto continue their roadtrip, facing the undefeated Montreal Roses FC at the Stade Boreale in Laval, Quebec on Thursday, May 22 at 7 p.m. ET.
THREE IN A ROW: AFC Toronto is now on a three-game unbeaten run, conceding just two goals during that stretch.
COLBY BARNETT: The American midfielder scored the first goal of her Northern Super League career.
SARAH ROLLINS: The AFC defender made her first Northern Super League start, leading the club in Total Passes in the shutout.
UP NEXT: AFC Toronto face the undefeated Montreal Roses FC on Thursday, May 22 at 7 p.m. ET (Stream on TSN+ and NSL.ca; French language coverage on RDS; US Streaming on ESPN+)
MATCH SUMMARY
AFC Toronto - 1 Halifax Tides FC - 0
Venue: Wanderer Grounds
Referee: Anne-Marie Canuel
Assistants: Marie-Han Gagnon Chretien, Melissa Snedden Fourth Official: Laura Hall
Referee Observer: James Keast
SCORING SUMMARY
AFC Toronto: Colby Barnett (5’) Halifax Tides FC: 0
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
27’ - Yellow: Kaylee Hunter (AFC Toronto)
34’ - Yellow: Karima Lemire (Halifax Tides FC) 44’ - Yellow: Esther Okoronkwo (AFC Toronto)
STARTING LINEUP & STATS
AFC Toronto Starting Lineup:
GK Sierra Cota-Yarde (Portugal) DF Croix Soto (USA)
DF Sarah Rollins (Toronto, ON) DF Ashley Cathro (Victoria, BC) 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: Noelle Henning (GK), Hye-Ji Hong (DF), Kaela Hansen (DF), Sonia Walk (DF), Aoi Kizaki (MF), April Lantaigne (MF), Cloey Uddenberg (MF), Ivymae Perez (MF), Nyota Katembo (MF)
Total Shots: 10 Shots on Goal: 4 Fouls: 8 Offsides: 5 Corner-Kicks: 7 Saves: 2
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: