PLAYER PROFILE – Sarah Rollins is a defender for AFC Toronto. The 5’11” 20-year-old, who was born on March 15, 2005, grew up in Toronto, and has now recently returned to her hometown after university and joined AFC Toronto before the start of the 2025 NSL season.
Sarah Rollins: An Important AFC Toronto Defender
Rollins grew up in East and North Toronto, playing the game she loved in the city, as she said, according to the TVO Today YouTube Account on April 14, 2025:
She was also named as part of the Leaside Sports Hall of Fame back in 2025, according to the Leaside Sports Hall of Fame website.
North Toronto Nitros (2022-24)
As Rollins transitioned into her professional career, her excitement was palpable, as she said this with the move from the North Toronto Nitros to AFC Toronto, according to The Canadian Press:
“It was hard to say no to this opportunity. I never thought I’d be able to play for a pro team that’s right at home,” said Perez. “I knew Billy and head coach Marko from my time with North Toronto Soccer; I trust them with everything. Signing my contract was super emotional, and I’m excited to hopefully be a positive role model for other local players.
Some players and members of management for AFC Toronto have come from the North Toronto Nitros. This highlights how important the North Toronto Nitros are to the game of soccer in Canada.
University of British Columbia (2023-24)
Rollins talked about her time with the University of British Columbia (UBC) and has some fond memories, as she said this on winning the U Sports of the Year award, according to TikTok:
She helped her defence give up only five goals in the 2023 regular season, as well as only allowing four goals in total in both the season and playoffs of 2024. This included not giving up any goals in the season and the playoffs, which resulted in Rollins earning the All-Star tournament with the 2024 U SPORTS Championships honours.
There was high praise for Rollins with the Thunderbirds. This is what UBC head coach Jesse Symons said about her, according to the UBC Thunderbirds website:
“Sarah was really able to step in and connect extremely well with her teammates and in our structure,” praised Symons. “She was able to pick up concepts and principles of our program quickly, to be able to really establish herself in our conference and USPORTS. She has the ability to play short or long in possession and is very strong on set pieces. She will be a player who can really look to build out of the back and also stretch teams if they have a high line.”
Symons also added some high praise to Rollins when getting signed by AFC Toronto, according to the same UBC website:
“Sarah will be extremely motivated to make an impact within the NSL and AFC Toronto,” concluded Symons. “She is a leader and a player who really steps up in big games. She has an extremely high mindset to want to improve and push herself to become a top player.”
AFC Toronto (2025-Present)
Rollins is an important player for AFC Toronto. For example, she made a big defensive stop against the Halifax Tides FC on May 17. She played well that game and, as a result, earned Rookie of the Week for her performances against the Tides.
She is a player with great leadership abilities, as AFC Toronto had this to say about her on this website:
“Rollins is known for her consistency, composure, and leadership beyond her years.”
READ MORE: 2025 AFC Toronto Season: NSL Supporters’ Shield Champions
The defender got regular playing time with the club and played a role in AFC giving up only 24 goals in the NSL season. This was the least amount of goals allowed of any of the six NSL teams during the regular season, and it was a big reason why AFC won the 2025 NSL Supporters’ Shield.
AFC Toronto Games in 2026
READ MORE: Vancouver Rise FC Wins The First-Ever Diana B. Matheson Cup
The first home game for AFC Toronto will be on April 24 on the road at BC Place against the Vancouver Rise FC. This will be the rematch of last year’s NSL Final. AFC will then host their first home game of 2026 against the Halifax Tides FC on May 3 at BMO Field, as mentioned by the AFC Toronto website.
Photo Credit: Amaya for AFC Toronto on October 19, 2025.
