November 1 | 12:00 PM ET | Stade Boréale, Montréal
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History begins here. The inaugural Northern Super League Semi-Finals open at Stade Boréale, where the Montréal Roses host AFC Toronto in the first leg of a two-match series that will decide who advances to the historic inaugural NSL Final.

It’s a fitting opening act for the postseason: two clubs whose journeys have been intertwined since the very start. From the league’s first kickoff in April to its final whistle in October, Montréal and Toronto have embodied the rhythm of this inaugural campaign - trading victories, testing limits, and pushing each other to evolve.

Montréal Roses: Discipline and Defiance
Built on organization and heart, Montréal have forged an identity as one of the toughest teams to break down. The Roses have conceded the fewest goals in the league, anchored by Team of the Season defender Stéphanie Hill, whose composure and timing have made her a defensive cornerstone. Leadership runs deep in this squad. Co-captains Mégane Sauvé and Tanya Boychuk have been at the heart of Montréal’s identity all season; Sauvé setting the tempo through midfield with her vision and work rate, Boychuk driving the attack with relentless energy and creativity. Alongside them, Allie Hess remains a constant threat in the final third, capable of shifting momentum in an instant.

With their trademark organization and precision in possession, the Roses have shown that their greatest strength lies in unity. In front of their home crowd at Stade Boréale, they’ll look to harness that spirit once again. The Roses have already proven they can frustrate Toronto. They did it on opening weekend with a 1–0 win, and they did it again midseason. Their fans at Stade Boréale know this team thrives when underestimated.

AFC Toronto: Relentless and Rising
The numbers tell one story - first place, 16 wins, 51 points, unbeaten in their last five - but the performance tells another: Toronto haven’t just led the league; they’ve shaped a distinct identity. Under Coach of the Year Marko Milanovic, they’ve built a system defined by control, movement, and belief.

Their captain, Emma Regan, the league’s Midfielder of the Year, commands the pitch like a metronome - calm, relentless, and always one step ahead. Kaylee Hunter, the newly crowned Rookie of the Year, has risen from breakout talent to national team call-up in a matter of months. Alongside her, Esther Okoronkwo, the NSL’s assist leader, has been the creative heartbeat of an attack that simply does not stop.

And yet, Toronto’s brilliance hasn’t dulled their hunger. They know better than anyone that Montréal have beaten them before, and that in the playoffs, past dominance means nothing if you can’t deliver when the stakes are highest. Fresh off a series of national team appearances, representing Canada, Nigeria, and Portugal, Toronto’s internationals return to club duty knowing the next step in their season could be their most meaningful yet.

Familiar Foes, New Stakes
Across their five meetings this year, neither side has held control for long. Toronto claimed three wins, Montreal two, but all by narrow margins, four decided by a single goal. Until their final meeting in October, every result had gone the way of the away team, a reflection of how evenly matched and unpredictable this fixture has been.

The Weight of a First
It’s easy to talk tactics; Toronto’s pace in transition, Montréal’s precision in passing, but what really hangs over this match is legacy. There will never be another first NSL Semi-Final. There will never be another first Final to play for.

Both teams enter the semi-finals with something to prove and something to claim. For Toronto, it’s the chance to turn a near-perfect season into a championship run. For Montreal, it’s an opportunity to prove that structure, belief, and collective effort can overcome any obstacle.

When the whistle blows at noon on November 1, the story of the NSL’s inaugural season enters its defining act. One side will seize the advantage; the other will regroup for the second leg. But both will leave a mark on the history books.

Because this is what it looks like when a new era begins.