AFC Toronto Shuts Out Montreal Roses FC 2-0 on the Road
Captain Emma Regan nets her first career NSL goal; Esther Okoronkwo tallies her league-leading third goal
AFC Toronto extends undefeated streak to four games, now sitting at the top of league standings
Laval, QC (May 22, 2025) – In the club’s first revenge match of the season, AFC Toronto secured another three points with a decisive 2-0 victory over the Montreal Roses FC on Thursday night at Stade Borele in Laval. Captain Emma Regan scored the first goal of her Northern Super League career, while forward Esther Okoronkwo notched her third of the season.
In an aggressive and well-fought battle, AFC Toronto first broke the deadlock in the 34th minute with a well-crafted team goal that showcased persistence and precision. After Okoronkwo couldn’t connect on the initial ball, Colby Barnett gathered and calmly delivered to Shaina Ashouri then back to Okoronkwo, who executed a perfectly placed strike into the back of the net.
Regan would add to the lead in the 74th minute, notching a killer strike off the crossbar to score her first goal of the season. Goalkeeper Sierra Cota-Yarde secured yet another clean sheet, making a career-high five saves.
AFC Toronto extends their undefeated streak to four games, and now sits at the top of league standings.
Next, AFC Toronto are back home at York Lions Stadium to take on Ottawa Rapid FC on Saturday, June 7 at 12 noon ET.
REVENGE MATCH: AFC Toronto secured the victory in the rematch of their inaugural opponent. In the second of their five meetings, the teams are tied one game each.
EMMA REGAN: AFC Toronto’s captain scored the first goal of her Northern Super League career.
ESTHER OKORONKWO: The Nigerian international’s first half tally was her third of the season, tying Ottawa Rapid FC’s Delaney Baie Pridham for the most in the league.
UP NEXT: AFC Toronto are back at home at York Lions Stadium to take on Ottawa Rapid FC on Saturday, June 7 at 12 noon ET (Stream on CBC Gem and NSL.ca)
MATCH SUMMARY
AFC Toronto - 2 Montreal Roses FC - 0
Venue: Stade Boreale
Referee: Sheila Couture
Assistants: Camille Raymond, Amanda Kwan Fourth Official: Allie Martin
Referee Observer: Laurence Rodier
SCORING SUMMARY
AFC Toronto: Esther Okoronkwo (34’), Emma Regan (73’) Montreal Roses FC: 0
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
61’ - Yellow: Julia Leas (Montreal Roses FC) 65’ - Yellow: Nikki Small (AFC Toronto)
STARTING LINEUP & STATS
AFC Toronto Starting Lineup:
GK Sierra Cota-Yarde (Portugal) DF Hong Hye-ji (South Korea) 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) MF Aoi Kizaki (Japan)
FW Shaina Ashouri (USA)
FW Esther Okoronkwo (Nigeria)
Substitutes: Olivia Busby (GK), Croix Soto (DF), Kaela Hansen (DF), Sonia Walk (DF), April Lantaigne (MF), Cloey Uddenberg (MF), Ivymae Perez (MF), Nyota Katembo (MF)
Total Shots: 10 Shots on Goal: 5 Fouls: 9 Offsides: 5 Corner-Kicks: 4 Saves: 5
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/montreal-toronto-2025-05-22
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Assistant Coach, Sylvia Forbes: We obviously tweak things week in and week out. One of the biggest things we tell the players is we want them to get better every single week. So, the assumption would be that when you get to Week Six, we're gonna be better than we were at Week One. The way the game went Week One was not what we wanted to happen. We've adjusted. We're not really focused too much on that. We're focused on the next match that's coming up, and how we can best prepare the players to execute what we would like them to do, and then continue with the results.
I think we're really pleased with how that's looked in the last few weeks and obviously to get a result, it gives confidence to the players and you need results to get confident.
Forward, Esther Okorokwo, on her third goal of the season: I just gotta keep doing the same thing I'm doing, but getting better, playing together with the team and, play more as a team, and the goals will come eventually.
Midfielder, Emma Regan, on her first goal: I feel like I've had a couple that I felt that should have been put away in previous games, so I'm kind of always going into the next game, waiting for the next opportunity to get a shot on that. And Nikki gave me basically the exact same ball she gave me a couple games ago and I told her I wouldn't miss this time. I'm really excited to get the win and that I could be a part of it. That's great, but ultimately it's the win that matters at the end of the day.
You gotta kind of be consistent and put together performances consistently. So, I think we are just working on that every single week and a win is a win where it happens doesn't matter to us.
