ANALYSIS – AFC Toronto really piled up the goals on Saturday as AFC Toronto’s defender, Sarah Rollins, scored her first-ever NSL goal. It was also the game in which forward Kaylee Hunter scored two goals against her hometown team in Calgary, Alberta, at McMahon Stadium. AFC ran away with this game, especially once the red card was awarded to Calgary Wild FC’s Grace Sturdy.
AFC Toronto’s Sarah Rollins Made Personal History at McMahon Stadium
AFC Toronto’s Kaylee Hunter and Victoria Pickett had Fantastic Games
Kaylee Hunter got player of the game as she scored the first two goals for the team. These two goals were key as they were the only goals scored when it was 11v11 (yes, the penalty was scored just after the Calgary Wild FC’s Grace Sturdy got a red card, but it would have been scored regardless of whether Calgary’s red card happened or not).
- The first goal, as seen above, was done well as Victoria Pickett started the play. She passed it to Lauren Rowe, who delivered a fantastic pass to Hunter, who put the ball into the back of the net.
- The second goal was scored thanks to a tackle on AFC Toronto’s Pickett by Calgary Wild FC’s Grace Sturdy. As a result of this, Sturdy got a red card, and Hunter converted the penalty kick.
This is what Hunter said about the win:
“I think once we got our first goal, we kind of didn’t take our foot off the gas pedal. We knew that this was a game where we wanted to score as many goals as we could. So, I think once we got in, those opportunities were clinical. I was happy to get on the end of two of them.”
Pickett also assisted in Rollins’ first-ever goal, which was scored later in the game. Her cross following a corner met Rollins’ head and went into the back of the net.
Sarah Rollins Scored Her First-Ever NSL Goal
Sarah Rollins, more known for her centre-back role and her excellent defending, scored her first-ever NSL goal.
The corner Pickett delivered was fantastic, but Rollins’ ability to put the power and accuracy on the header past Calgary Wild FC goalkeeper, Katelin Talbert, was spectacular.
This is how Rollins described her goal:
“I noticed the space in between the goalie and their zonal players, and nobody was marking me. So, I was like, anything that comes in this area is something that I can go for.”
Of course, Rollins’ goal is one of four goals scored (not counting the penalty scored by Hunter) after Grace Sturdy got a red card. It is well-deserved, as Rollins is considered one of the nominees for player of the month for July, as mentioned on the AFC Toronto Facebook Page.
READ MORE: Sarah Rollins: A Key Defender for AFC Toronto
Calgary Wild FC’s Grace Sturdy Got a Red Card
There is no real information on why Sturdy got a red card. It seemed similar to how Colby Barnett got a red card in the 2-1 loss against the Ottawa Rapid FC at York Lions Stadium.
However, it did have an impact on the game. Excluding Hunter’s penalty shot goal, which would have been scored even if they were playing 11v11, AFC still scored four more goals. It is not impossible for a team to come back from a 2-0 deficit, especially with a team playing at home against the Calgary Wild FC.
Colby Barnett’s goal might have been the goal of the match, as it went past the goalkeeper. She had a fantastic game as she also played a role in Lauren Rowe scoring a goal. She played a massive role in AFC securing the win.
In addition, Kaila Novak scored a fantastic goal near the end of the game. This was when Novak dispossessed a Calgary Wild FC player and passed the ball back and forth with Sarah Stratigakis before Novak scored the sixth and final goal for AFC Toronto.
Other Factors: Lauren Rowe Had An Excellent Game
READ MORE: Lauren Rowe: AFC Toronto’s 2026 Leading Goalscorer
Lauren Rowe had a fantastic game. She delivered a cross to Hunter, which Hunter could not handle early in the game. She then delivered a great cross to Hunter inside the box to score the first goal of the game. Rowe even scored her own goal as she got a pass from Colby Barnett and made sure the ball went into the back of the net.
Barnett also had a fantastic game, as she scored her first NSL goal of the 2026 season with a rocket. It was quite possibly one of the best goals scored this year in the league.
Calgary had a positive five minutes to start the game, but as the game went on, Toronto applied relentless pressure. The midfield deserved a lot of credit; for example, Cloey Uddenberg made some good plays to win the ball for her team in the midfield.
As a result, Calgary only had one shot on goal. Yes, Calgary got a red card late in the first half, but teams have shown they can fight back even when being a player down. It was a complete performance from the defence to the midfielders to the forwards for AFC Toronto
READ MORE: Sabrina D’Angelo Gets Clean Sheet in a Win at the Stade Boréale
Games Coming Up for Both Teams
AFC Toronto will now travel to the nation’s capital to face the Ottawa Rapid FC on Saturday for a Battle of Ontario matchup. That game will be televised nationally on TSN in Canada, and it will also be streamed in the U.S. on ESPN+. That game will take place at 2:00 pm ET.
READ MORE: W Canadian Championship: Significance for Canadian Soccer
This is while the Calgary Wild FC will now travel westward to face off against the Vancouver Rise FC on Saturday. That game will be at Swangard Stadium, and it will be shown in Canada on CBC Gem and worldwide on YouTube. That game will be shown at 5 pm MT (4 pm PT and 7 pm ET).
Photo Credit: Sean Pollock for AFC Toronto, August 1, 2026, of a Kaila Novak Headshot.
