Lauren Rowe scored her fourth goal in four matches and Kaylee Hunter added her second of the year to keep AFC Toronto unbeaten in four straight matches
Burnaby, B.C. (June 28, 2026) – Lauren Rowe kept her goal streak going on Sunday, scoring her fourth goal in as many games to help AFC Toronto to a 3-1 victory over Vancouver Rise FC at Swangard Stadium. Toronto (3-3-2) is unbeaten in four straight games and moves into fourth in the Northern Super League table with 12 points.
In the first half, Lauren Rowe took a shot that deflected off a Vancouver defender for Toronto’s first goal of the game. The goal was credited as an own goal by Rise FC’s Jessika Cowart. Vancouver tied it up minutes later off a free kick.
Rowe continued to contribute in the second half, taking a long ball from goalkeeper Sofia Manner and burying it for her fourth goal in four games. Kaylee Hunter added to Toronto’s lead in stoppage time, driving into the box and beating Vancouver’s goalkeeper for her second of the year.
“I felt like defensively we wanted it more,” said Lauren Rowe. “Especially on first balls, we contested better. And then our press, it worked because we were able to transition and be offensively threatening, because we were working harder.”
Next weekend, Toronto heads east to take on Halifax Tides FC at Wanderers Ground on Sunday, July 5 at 3 p.m. ET.
LAUREN ROWE: Lauren Rowe scored her fourth goal in four games on Sunday. The 21-year-old has now doubled her two-goal total from the 2025 season.
ESTHER OKORONKWO: The 29-year-old Nigerian striker came off the bench for her first minutes since suffering an injury in early May.
KAYLEE HUNTER: Kaylee Hunter scored her second of the year on Sunday. The 18-year-old striker leads the league in total shots (28) and is tied for the league lead in shots on target (15).
GOALS AGAINST: AFC Toronto is tied with Halifax Tides FC for the fewest goals against in the NSL, with just eight conceded in eight games.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: AFC Toronto holds a 2-0-1 record against Vancouver Rise FC this season.
UP NEXT: AFC Toronto faces Halifax Tides FC at Wanderers Ground on Sunday, July 5 at 3 p.m. ET (Stream on CBC Gem and NSL.ca).
MATCH SUMMARY
AFC Toronto - 3 | Vancouver Rise FC - 1
Venue: Swangard Stadium
Referee: Myriam Marcotte
Assistants: Shukwia Tajik, Theo Diederichsen
Fourth Official: Niko Jecanski
Referee Observer: Bob Sawtell
SCORING SUMMARY
AFC Toronto: J. Cowart (35’ OG), L. Rowe (63’), K. Hunter (90+3’)
Vancouver Rise FC: A. Oularbi (38’)
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
60’ - Yellow: Nikki Stanton (Vancouver Rise FC)
67’ - Yellow: Jessica DeFilippo (Vancouver Rise FC)
89’ - Yellow: Jessika Cowart (Vancouver Rise FC)
STARTING LINEUP & STATS
AFC Toronto Starting Lineup:
GK Sofia Manner (FIN)
DF Jordan Brewster (USA)
DF Ashley Cathro (USA)
DF Sarah Rollins (Toronto, ON)
MF Colby Barnett (USA)
MF Zoe Burns (USA)
MF Olivia Chisholm (Toronto, ON)
MF Nikayla Small (Pickering, ON)
MF Sarah Stratigakis (Woodbridge, ON)
FW Kaylee Hunter (Calgary, AB)
FW Lauren Rowe (Conception Bay South, NL)
Substitutes: Danielle Krzyzaniak (GK), Kaela Hansen (DF), Nyota Katembo (MF), Linda (MF), April Lantaigne (MF), Cloey Uddenberg (MF), Mia Fontana (FW), Kaila Novak (FW), Esther Okoronkwo (FW)
Total Shots: 14
Shots on Goal: 4
Fouls: 9
Offsides: 3
Corner Kicks: 8
Saves: 2
Photo Highlights
Media can access photo highlights here.
Video Highlights
Media can access video highlights from the 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/2026-06-28-vancouver-toronto
More from the locker room:
Head coach Marko Milanović, on the team’s resilience after a slow start: “The second half was very good. We probably should have scored more than we scored. Very pleased that we were able to bounce back, and it just gives us confidence that even after a first half like this, we can come back and win the game.”
Milanović, on Kaylee Hunter getting her second of the year: “Obviously it's important for front players, for strikers, to score goals. I never have any doubts about this girl, and I know some people maybe do on the outside, but for me it's just a matter of time, and she knows that. It was a great goal as well. Amazing performance, especially in the second half.”
Milanović, on Esther Okoronkwo’s return to the pitch: “Her presence is important for our team. I think her just being on the pitch, it makes a difference in terms of everyone else's confidence. She's definitely someone that other teams have to worry about, even when there's moments with 50/50 balls, certain moments when there's a little bit of conflict, she's the one that can really help us in those. And then obviously securing the ball back to goal, she's excellent at that. That helps quite a bit.”
Lauren Rowe, on scoring her fourth goal in four games: “I feel confident. I have such a great team behind me to help me score these goals, so I'm confident.”
Kaylee Hunter, on scoring her second goal of the season: “Happy to finally hit the back of the net again. I think I've been putting myself in lots of positions to score, and like Marko said, it's only a matter of time before they start going in. But I just got to keep on working, helping out the team as best I can, and yeah, just keep on winning.”