MATCHDAY STORYLINES
ONTO THE NEXT
AFC Toronto is back on the road for a quick turnaround as they travel to the west coast in search of a bounce-back performance following a difficult home outing. On Saturday afternoon at York Lions Stadium, AFC’s four-match unbeaten streak came to an end with a 4- 0 loss to Ottawa Rapid FC.
The visitors struck early, with Ottawa’s D.B. Pridham scoring in the opening minute and going on to record the first-ever hat trick in Northern Super League history. Stella Downing netted an additional tally for the Rapid, taking full advantage of defensive miscues and miscommunication in the Toronto back line. Despite flashes of possession and pressure, AFC was unable to crack Ottawa’s disciplined and aggressive defensive structure.
One bright spot in the afternoon came with the long-awaited debut of Jade Kovacevic, the league’s first-ever signed player, who made her NSL debut as a second-half substitute.
With only a few days to reset, AFC Toronto now turns its focus to the west coast, eager to respond with intensity and rediscover the form that saw them climb the table in recent weeks.
WEST COAST CONNECTS
Several AFC Toronto players will have friends and family in the stands this week as they return to familiar ground in Vancouver. Captain Emma Regan, a Burnaby native and former Whitecaps Girls Elite captain, was named the 2015 Whitecaps Most Promising Player and BC Soccer Youth Player of the Year. Defender Kaela Hansen, who came through the Whitecaps and Canada Soccer’s REX programs, grew up playing in South Burnaby and represented Team BC at youth competitions. Victoria-born Ashley Cathro also trained with the Whitecaps during high school and earned BC Soccer Youth Player of the Year honours in 2016. Midfielder Kaylee Hunter, named the Whitecaps’ Most Promising Female Player in 2024, developed through the same program and will look to impress in a return to the West Coast.
CONCACAF CHAMPION CONTRIBUTIONS
Midfielder April Lantaigne and goalkeepers Noelle Henning and Olivia Busby returned to the club this week after helping Canada win the 2025 Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship. With the title, Canada secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland. Henning played a key role in Canada’s run and was awarded the Golden Glove as the tournament’s top goalkeeper.
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
KEYS TO THE MATCH
AFC Toronto enters this match with something to prove. Following an uncharacteristic 4-0 loss at home to Ottawa Rapid FC – the club’s first defeat in five games – the focus this week is on accountability, response, and returning to form. Head coach Marko Milanovic has emphasized energy and mentality in the buildup, with players and staff alike eager to show that the setback was an anomaly.
“If you look at the seven games, I feel that this is the only one that we deserved to lose. One out of seven makes it an anomaly,” said Milanovic. “There will be changes in personnel for sure – that was planned even before the result on Saturday, because we have three games close together... But obviously our eyes are a little bit on Saturday, it's such a short week.”
Their last meeting with Vancouver was a gritty 1-1 draw at York Lions Stadium. Toronto controlled the second half and looked poised for the win after Aoi Kizaki’s 84th-minute goal, but a last-second equalizer on a corner spoiled the result. This time around, the team is locked in on closing out strong, minimizing costly mistakes, and capitalizing on sustained pressure in the attacking third.
Clean execution and a full-match mentality will be key for Toronto to reassert itself on the road and reestablish the identity that has carried them to a top-three position in the table.