In any competition, there is only ever one first.
For the Northern Super League, that first champion is Vancouver Rise FC, who beat AFTC Toronto 2-1 in a weather-battled BMO Field.
Holly Ward slotted in the game-winner midway through the second half, and NSL Playoff MVP Morgan McAslan made seven saves in a match that was full of highlights and controversy.
AFC Toronto started on the front foot. Three quality chances within the opening 10 minutes had McAslan the busier of the two goalkeepers.
Toronto was consistently able to cut through the Rise’s defence, finding little runs into space and receiving balls behind the visitor’s backline.
Even from a distance, AFC Toronto was finding ample opportunity. McAslan stood large in the 15th minute as she dived to save an Emma Regan bullet from just outside the 18-yard box.
And all that possession and attacking dominance paid off for Toronto as Kaylee Hunter put her team up by one in the 20th minute.
Hunter received the ball through a solid buildup through the middle. Receiving the ball on the right, the Toronto attacker had no defenders in front of her as she cut in and unleashed a shot that got through McAslan’s legs and into the net behind her.
The Rise attempted to advance through their wide players, Ward and Lisa Pechersky, but Toronto’s defenders made short work of keeping their box clear.
Vancouver’s game plan took a hit late in the first half as Quinn was brought down by Esther Okoronkwo in the midfield. Toronto’s attacker also received treatment but was able to continue. Unfortunately, the Rise’s marquee player was forced off with what looked like a knee issue. Nikki Stanton came on as their replacement.
But only seconds later, the match was called into a delay as lightning was seen in the area. Neither side was able to make use of the minutes after the delay before the half.
The Rise made a few subtle shifts to their structure for the second half, more play through the wide players and strong on challenges.
And it paid off early. A Pechersky shot was parried away and went out for a corner. On the ensuing corner, the ball was handled awkwardly in the 6-yard box and bounced into the net after being mishandled by Sierra Cota-Yarde.
The Rise took their first lead in the match in the 68th minute. Ward did what she does best, running down the left channel with the ball and bullying her way into the 18-yard box.
Her shot got past Cota-Yarde and snuck in by the far post.
Toronto fought to regain their dominant position, but the Rise held them off to the final whistle, securing the Diana B. Matheson Trophy as the NSL’s first-ever champion.
Rise goalkeeper McAslan wins MVP
McAslan, the Golden Glove winner for the most clean sheets in the NSL regular season, was awarded the playoff MVP for her dominant performance in the final.
The Rise goalkeeper stopped seven shots in the match, single-handedly keeping her team in the game during a tilted first-half performance from Toronto.
It was a role that McAslan has excelled at throughout the season. She had more saves this season than any other keeper.
