ANALYSIS – Zoe Burns had the game of her life as the Canadian defender scored her first two-ever goals in the Northern Super League/Super Ligue du Nord (NSL/SLN). She also helped her team remain at the top of the NSL/SLN table, with only six games left in the regular season for the club.
This is a big win for the club, especially after the heartbreaker loss against the Vancouver Rise FC on August 17 at BMO Field.
AFC Toronto Rebounds With a 2-0 Win Against the Calgary Wild FC
Zoe Burns Had A Game to Remember
For defenders, one would not expect them to score goals. Well, that was what Burns did on Saturday as she scored two goals for her team, with Esther Okoronkwo assisting in Burns’ first goal.
- An impressive pass led to Burns getting the ball. Her shot was deflected off a Calgary defender and went into the back of the net.
- Burns’ second goal was well taken. Following an AFC corner, the ball came to Burns’ feet. She took full advantage, shooting the ball in the top corner, which was hard for Stephanie
Bukovec.
Burns talked about her performance and what it meant for her to win the game against Calgary, after the heartbreaking loss against Vancouver:
“It’s always good to be able to convert when asked – we all knew that we would have to step up, so that’s always a good feeling to be able to deliver.”
READ MORE: Esther Okoronkwo: AFC Toronto’s Leading Goal Scorer
AFC Toronto’s Defence Was Solid
A big reason for AFC Toronto winning today was their defence. One of those reasons was Croix Soto, who was key to defending the final pass that could have led to a goal-scoring opportunity:
- Cleared the ball when two Calgary players were trying to connect a pass within AFC Toronto’s box.
- Cleared the ball from a cross-pass provided by Kathryn Harvey (Serita Thurton also made an important play on that play with her speed before passing the ball to Harvey).
With AFC getting the clean sheet, this is what the head coach of AFC Toronto, Marko Milanovic, said about Croix Soto when answering Raheem Bashir’s question:
“I thought Croix was very good today. One of her best games, you heard Sarah mention how well she communicates with the rest of the back line. That’s something that we can’t hear. Even we, on the bench, can’t hear it, but she does organize the backline quite well, and those spaces between the lines become much smaller when she does that.” Markonovic said, “And on the ball. I thought she made really good choices. When to switch, when not to switch, and when to play forward. It was one of her best performances.”
Soto, at only 24 years old, has built quite a resume for herself, as she has experience playing in the NWSL with both the Kansas City Current and the Houston Dash. It is great that she is taking more of a leadership role with AFC, as she has played a critical role in the team being at the top of the table.
There were also other players that stepped up, such as Sarah Rollins and the rest of the backline. They did not allow Calgary any clear-cut chances, and as a result, played a major role in Toronto getting a clean sheet on Saturday at York Lions Stadium.
Calgary Wild FC Goalkeeper, Stephanie Bukovic, Played Well
Calgary Wild FC goalkeeper Stephanie Bukovic played a big role in limiting the number of goals AFC Toronto scored on Saturday. This includes making herself big and stopping clear-cut opportunities from Lauren Rowe and Okoronkwo. This is what the Calgary Wild FC head coach, Lydia Bedford, said about the match when answering Raheem Bashir’s question:
“In the first two minutes. You know, she came out a few times and really got into that space,” Bedford said. “I think any positive points for us are normally that she’s contributing to it in some way, in terms of bringing that composure around the back line. So, yeah, really pleased with her performance.”
Bedford also said that the two goals that AFC scored, Bukovic could do nothing on, as one came from a deflection and the other goal was scored while the goalkeeper did not have a clear view of the ball because of the number of players that were in the box. She is a player to watch out for if AFC Toronto has to face them again.
Other Factors: AFC Toronto Got a Clean Sheet, and Oliver Chisholm Made Her NSL Debut
From the post-game press conference, getting the clean sheet was very important for the club. A question from someone in the media asked Sarah Rollins about what was more important, the clean sheet or the win:
“I’d say the clean sheet for sure. We were just talking on Friday about goals we want for the rest of the season, and what I brought up right away was clean sheets, because that’s the only thing I want, is a defender. That’s my job. That’s my main job is to protect my goalie and to protect the goal. And so, yeah, it really, it really meant a lot for everyone in our back line, including Sierra Cota-Yarde.”
It was also the first-ever NSL/SLN game played by the teenager, Olivia Chisholm. Milanovic had high praise for her as he believes she will be a top player:
“As far as Olivia is concerned, she’s just a pleasure to be around. Her personality is excellent. She works very hard, so she’s going to, we feel like she has a lot of potential to become a top player.”
What This Means for the Standings
For AFC Toronto, this win means they have a six-point advantage over both Vancouver Rise FC and a seven-point advantage over both the Montreal Roses FC and the Ottawa Rapid FC (all three teams, though have played one less game than AFC Toronto).
As for the Calgary Wild FC, this loss puts them in a tough spot heading into the final two months of the season. They are eight points behind both the Ottawa Rapid FC and the Montreal Roses FC, and nine points behind Vancouver Rise FC.
READ MORE: Nikayla Small: A Standout AFC Toronto Midfielder
Games Coming Up For Both Teams
READ MORE: AFC Toronto’s Newest Midfielder: Sarah Stratigakis
AFC Toronto will get prepared to take on the Halifax Tides FC as they travel to Atlantic Canada to play at Wanderers Grounds. This game, which will take place in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, at 2:00 pm ET on September 6, will be shown live on CBC. They will then host the Vancouver Rise FC on September 13 on CBC at York Lions Stadium.
The game against Vancouver will be very important as the Rise are playing very well, as they also look like the most likely team to overtake Toronto’s top spot in the league. This is especially true with the Rise acquiring Latifah Abdu, who was previously with the Montreal Roses FC.
READ MORE: Montreal Roses Ended AFC Toronto’s Five-Game Winning Streak
As for the Calgary Wild FC, they have two important NSL/SLN games coming up against teams that they are chasing. First is their road game against the Vancouver Rise FC at Swangard Stadium at 7:00 pm ET on September 6, 2025. The game will be televised nationally on TSN and will be streamed in the U.S. on ESPN+. They will also host the Montreal Roses FC on September 13 at McMahon Stadium. That game will be televised nationally on TSN and RDS and will also be streamed in the U.S. on ESPN+.
Source: AFC Toronto Post-Game Press Conference (for those interested).
Photo Credit: AFC Toronto on August 30, 2025.
