The inaugural Northern Super League regular season ended in fitting fashion on Sunday night, as AFC Toronto capped off a historic campaign with a 2–1 victory over Montréal Roses FC at York Lions Stadium. The win was followed by a celebratory moment for the home crowd, as Toronto lifted the league’s first-ever Supporters’ Shield awarded to the team finishing top of the regular season standings.

Montréal Strike First
Despite the festive atmosphere in Toronto, it was Montréal who opened the scoring. In the 24th minute, Allie Hess fired a low-driven shot from just outside the box, finding the bottom corner to give the Roses a 1–0 advantage. The visitors carried strong early momentum, controlling possession and dictating tempo in the first half.

Toronto Turn It Around
AFC Toronto’s response was swift. Midfielder Sarah Stratigakis levelled the score before halftime, converting a sharp pass from Lauren Rowe to make it 1–1. The goal reenergized the home side, who came out pressing after the break with renewed confidence.

Nikayla Small sealed the result in the 63rd minute, slotting home a composed first-touch finish from the centre of the box to give Toronto a 2–1 lead and ultimately, the win.

Looking Ahead: Familiar Foes in the Semifinals
Toronto’s consistency has been the hallmark of their season, finishing with a league-best record and the Supporters’ Shield in hand. They’ll now turn their attention to the postseason, where they’ll face a familiar opponent, Montréal, once again in the NSL Playoffs semifinals. Montréal (10–9–6) enter the playoffs as the fourth seed after a strong debut season, while Toronto (16–6–3) carry their regular-season momentum into November. The first leg of their semifinal matchup kicks off in Montréal on November 1.