Vancouver Rise FC became the first club to lift the Diana B. Matheson Cup after a 2-1 win over AFC Toronto in the inaugural Northern Super League Final held at BMO Field Saturday.
Toronto’s Kaylee Hunter opened the scoring 20 minutes in, but in the second half, an own goal from Toronto goalkeeper Sierra Cota-Yarde, and a 68th-minute winner from Holly Ward, capped off a wet and dramatic final.
“This league, it’s been a long time coming. When I heard about it, I knew that it was something I wanted to be a part of,” said Vancouver captain Samantha Chang post-game. “Playing in the first-ever game and now winning the first trophy, it does feel so full-circle for us.”
AFC Toronto takes the early lead
In front of a packed lower bowl of 12,429 at BMO Field, Toronto controlled much of the opening half, setting the tempo with its pace and offensive talent.
Vancouver goalkeeper Morgan McAslan had to be on top of her game early as she dealt with the Toronto barrage on attack.
Nikayla Small had two great opportunities as she powered her way through two defenders to get a shot in tight, and also had a try from distance, testing McAslan early.
Toronto captain Emma Regan also had a beautiful left-footed shot from distance, forcing McAslan to make a great diving save.
Vancouver Rise FC beat AFC Toronto in the Northern Super League final Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. Photo courtesy NSL
In the 20th minute, Toronto broke through McAslan and scored the opening goal of the match. Two quick passes down the length of the field, beginning with Victoria Pickett and a toe poke from Sarah Stratigakis, sent Hunter through on goal, where she calmly slid her shot between the legs of McAslan to give Toronto the 1-0 lead.
Following the snowy semi-final game last week and the men’s CPL Final last Sunday, Mother Nature had one last say, as there was a lengthy lightning delay 10 minutes before the half.
With the players coming back out to play the rest of the half, Toronto picked up where they left off with a couple of great opportunities.
After Hunter’s cross was deflected off a defender, it bounced off the near post and landed in front of the goal for Esther Okoronkwo. Cutting inside, Okoronkwo’s shot to the far post was denied at the last minute on the goal line by Rise defender and veteran Jasmyne Spencer.
Minutes later, Hunter nearly found her second of the match as she drove towards goal, but only managed to hit the side netting with a thunderous shot.
At the end of the first half, Toronto put on a dominant offensive showcase, managing eight shots on target, while Vancouver had yet to record one.
Vancouver resilient in the second half
“That was a restart for us,” said Vancouver head coach Anja Heiner-Møller on the lightning delay. “We had to make it through seven minutes, and then we had a new restart. That was important for us.”
After the two restarts, Vancouver came out with more offensive purpose, pushing up against Toronto’s backline.
“The first half was not great,” said Chang post-game. “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.”
In the 54th minute, Vancouver found its equalizer off a corner-kick from substitute Nikki Stanton. A low curling shot towards the near post, the ball bounced under the feet of Regan into the chest of Cota-Yarde, who was unable to handle the bobbling ball before it found its way into the back of the net.
With their newfound momentum, Vancouver scored the go-ahead goal in the 68th minute. Making a quick cut away from the Toronto midfield, Chang sent a beautiful curling ball down the line into the path of Ward, where she outpaced Toronto defender Zoe Burns before cutting in and placing an angled shot into the bottom right corner to score the game winner.
Toronto had a last-gasp attempt at an equalizer in the 87th minute, as Lauren Rowe’s shot in tight looked like it was a handball, but referee Marie-Soleil Beaudoin quickly waved it off.
In the end, Vancouver’s defence held on to their narrow lead, and goalkeeper Morgan McAslan was named MVP of the match with seven saves.
“Toronto played a really good first half. But the resilience in this team is just amazing,” said Heiner-Møller. “To come back from that and finish it up like that with a 2-1 win, I’m just so proud.”
“That’s what it comes down to,” said Toronto head coach Marko Milanovic post-match.“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. That’s definitely frustrating.”
“We win and we lose as a team,” said an emotional Regan post-game. “I think this is an amazing group of girls that we’ve got here in Toronto, and that I got the privilege to play with this past season, it’s meant everything.”
It was also a homecoming game for two of Vancouver’s stars, as McAslan and Chang both grew up in and around the GTA.
“To win a final at BMO, where we both grew up coming to games when we were younger, that’s such a special moment for us,” said Chang.
NSL Historic Season Milestones
Sunday’s final capped off a historic and transformational inaugural Northern Super League season.
In its breakthrough first season, the league announced several significant milestones, including that the NSL ranked in the top five globally in average attendance among professional women’s soccer leagues.
The NSL also established itself among the world’s most competitive leagues with 85% of games decided by two goals or fewer, with an average of 2.6 goals per match.
The NSL featured players from 19 countries, with more than half coming from Tier 1 Leagues around the world, and with an average salary of approximately $75,000, it is also among the highest globally.
Domestically, seven NSL players received Canadian Senior National Team call-ups this season, with five of them playing in Sunday’s final.
The league also partnered with several key Tier 1 organizations with approximately $30 million in league-wide revenue. Prior to the match, government dignitaries also announced their intent to invest up to $5.45 million towards the growth of the league and women’s soccer in the country.
“It’s hard to believe we’re already wrapping up Year One. It’s been such a long journey to get here, and this season has exceeded every expectation. From incredible fans to world-class play and groundbreaking investment from partners, Canadians have embraced women’s professional soccer in ways that are powerful and deeply inspiring.
What I’m most proud of is the players. We knew Canada needed a professional league, but I think all of us have been blown away by the skill level and overall quality of play. I can’t wait to see how this league evolves next year — and where this incredible movement can go,” said founder and Chief Growth Officer Diana Matheson.
“The response from fans this year has been incredible. The energy in our stadiums and the engagement across our communities have proven that Canadians are ready for women’s professional soccer at the highest level. But this is just the beginning. Now it’s about building on the momentum and being positioned for growth. We have already established ourselves as a top women’s league in the world, but with the support of fans, partners, and investors, the sky’s the limit for the NSL,” said NSL President Christina Litz.
