AFC Toronto Secures 3-2 Road Win Over Vancouver Rise FC
Three AFC Toronto players - Emma Regan, Kaylee Hunter, Nikayla Small - were on the scoresheet
Goalkeeper Sofia Manner made her return from concussion protocol to solidify the victory
Burnaby, B.C. (June 11, 2025) – Redemption was on the agenda for AFC Toronto as they secured a 3-2 victory over Vancouver Rise FC at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, B.C. on Wednesday evening. Among the three Toronto players on the scoresheet was midfielder Nikayla Small, who netted her first career Northern Super League goal.
Toronto struck early, opening the scoring in just the second minute with a pinpoint long-range effort from captain Emma Regan. The visitors controlled much of the first half, holding 55% possession, and doubled their lead in the 42nd minute when Kaylee Hunter calmly finished off a well-worked sequence orchestrated from Victoria Pickett.
Vancouver’s Mariah Lee pulled one back in the 68th minute, but the response was immediate to restore the two-goal advantage on a crafty goal from Small, the first of her NSL career. Vancouver converted a stoppage-time penalty through Quinn, but Toronto held on for a deserved three points.
“It was a response we were looking for and it showed a lot of character to come here playing against a really good team and have a performance like that,” said head coach Marko Milanovic. “It speaks to the character that's in this room, starting with the captain and the rest of the team as well. We're going to have setbacks – all the good teams have setbacks and losses. It's how you come back the counts and today was a major test for that. We passed.”
Captain Emma Regan on playing in front of her hometown crowd: “I had a lot of family here and some little cousins that apparently were super excited and celebrating when I scored. I think the response from our team, as Marko said, was the best thing about today. We're always going to have setbacks. We faced a lot of them in the league so far, but it's how we respond and I'm really proud of how the group responded today.”
The club continues their two-game road trip, taking on Calgary Wild FC at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on Saturday, June 14 at 5 pm ET.
SERIES: In the second of their five meetings with Vancouver Rise FC, AFC Toronto are 1-1-0. SOFIA MANNER: The goalkeeper made her return to the pitch following her four-game
absence due to concussion protocol.
NIKAYLA SMALL: AFC Toronto’s midfielder scored the first goal of her Northern Super League career.
UP NEXT: AFC Toronto takes on Calgary Wild FC at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on Saturday, June 14 at 5 pm ET (Stream on CBC Gem and NSL.ca)
MATCH SUMMARY
AFC Toronto - 3 Vancouver Rise FC - 2
Venue: Swangard Stadium
Referee: Salma Flores-Desrochers Assistants: Stéphanie Fortin, Shukwia Tajik Fourth Official: Shaelyn Holdaway Referee Observer: Bob Sawtell
SCORING SUMMARY
AFC Toronto: Emma Regan (2’), Kaylee Hunter (42’), Nikayla Small (73’) Vancouver Rise FC: Mariah Lee (68’), Quinn (90’+8’)
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
27’ - Yellow: Nedya Sawan (Vancouver Rise FC) 51’ - Yellow: Ashley Cathro (AFC Toronto)
78’ - Yellow: Emma Regan (AFC Toronto)
79’ - Yellow: Josie Longhurst (Vancouver Rise FC) 90’+7’ - Yellow: Sarah Rollins (AFC Toronto)
STARTING LINEUP & STATS
AFC Toronto Starting Lineup:
GK Sofia Manner (Finland)
DF Croix Soto (USA)
DF Kaela Hansen (Burnaby, BC) 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: Sierra Cota-Yarde (GK), Hong Hye-ji (DF), Sarah Rollins (DF), Croix Soto (DF), Kaela Hansen (DF), Aoi Kizaki (MF), Cloey Uddenberg (MF), Nyota Katembo (MF), Jade Kovacevic (F)
Total Shots: 8 Shots on Goal: 3
Fouls: 15 Offsides: 4 Corner-Kicks: 5 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:
https://www.nsl.ca/games/vancouver-toronto-2025-06-11
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More from Marko Milanovic: “Two excellent goals. It obviously seems like we only score those.
I would love to score an ugly goal at some point this season.”
Emma Regan on her game tactics: “I used to be a defender, wasn't even a midfielder. I think I’ve added a little bit more attacking to my game. The way that this team is set up formationally and supporting me to go forward, I have a little bit of range to do that... We all work really well together in the midfield and I think it's just a testament. We have so many goal scorers on this team, we have so many threats, that it's very hard for teams to defend us.”
Kaylee Hunter on playing in Vancouver: “It was very special. I had a lot of teammates that came to this game, ex-teammates, and it was actually funny when I scored, apparently only one of them stood up... It's always super special having lots of friends here and family even come to the game.”