Rise to Glory: Vancouver Crowned NSL Champions

Vancouver Rise emerged victorious in a thrilling NSL final, defeating AFC Toronto 2-1 at Toronto’s BMO Field.

The game got underway with a flurry of chances, and AFC Toronto’s Kaylee Hunter almost opened the scoring within the first 10 minutes, volleying wide on a cross from captain Emma Regan. The 17-year-old striker would eventually find the back of the net in the 20th minute, striking through the legs of Rise goalkeeper Morgan McAslan.

Vancouver struggled to get into the game, and their woes were compounded by a 30-minute weather delay due to lightning in the area. However, the break seemed to galvanize the Rise, who stormed back into the game after the restart.

Toronto goalkeeper Sierra Cota-Yarde gifted Vancouver an equalizer in the 54th minute, fumbling a corner kick into her own net. The own goal seemed to deflate the home side, and Vancouver seized the momentum.

In the 68th minute, Vancouver captain Samantha Chang played a clever ball down the left channel, and Holly Ward capitalized with a well-taken winner. Ward, who earlier this year became the first NSL player to score for the Canadian national team, shrugged off a challenge from Zoe Burns before steering a shot into the far corner.

Chang lifted the Diana B. Matheson Cup aloft, sparking jubilant celebrations among the Vancouver contingent. McAslan, who made seven saves, was named the game’s most valuable player.

“The first half was not great,” Chang admitted. “But the rain delay honestly gave us a moment to just reconnect with each other, figure out what we needed to do moving forward, and we did that.”

AFC Toronto head coach Marko Milanovic was left frustrated, lamenting his team’s inability to capitalize on chances. “That’s what it comes down to,” he said. “I think if we convert even 30 per cent of what we created this game looks very different right now, and the result would have been different.”

Goals:

– Kaylee Hunter (AFC Toronto) – 20th minute
– Sierra Cota-Yarde (OG, AFC Toronto) – 54th minute
– Holly Ward (Vancouver Rise) – 68th minute