A historic first week for women’s soccer in Canada concluded on Saturday, as AFC Toronto took on Montreal Roses FC at BMO Field in Toronto. The game, which ended in a 1-0 victory for the Roses, was only the second game in Northern Super League (NSL) history.
The celebrations started strong, with AFC Toronto inviting Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, as well seven-time Olympic medalist Andre De Grasse, a couple Toronto Sceptres (PWHL) players, and the Toronto Tempo (WNBA) organization, to take part in the special event. Afterwards, the celebrations extended to the on-field action, with Montreal’s forward Tanya Boychuck putting the ball in the back of the net within the first two minutes of the game.
The NSL’s Identity
Both teams played a fast-paced and direct style of play, combined with beautiful moments of team buildups. When asked about how she would characterize the NSL’s style moving forward, AFC Toronto’s captain Emma Regan mentions exciting attacking plays. “That kind of stuff gets the crowd going,” she says.
Regan perfectly pinpointed the strength of yesterday’s game. The new Canadian league brings a style of soccer that combines the youthfulness of recent college graduates with the game-reading abilities of more experienced players, leaving fans on the edge of their seats whenever players step onto the pitch.
If the level of play offers fans a glimpse of what this league will achieve this year, so did the crowd. In total, 14,518 people were present at BMO Field to cheer on both teams for their inaugural match, which was notably also announced as a lower-bowl sellout by the home team. For the second time in as many games, the NSL recorded a crowd of over 14,000 fans, showcasing Canadians’ enthusiasm for the country finally getting a professional women’s soccer league.
Inspiring Generations
Throughout the entirety of the game, fans around the stadium cheered, chanted, and played drums. But above all the noise, attendees could hear young girls cheering, “AFC, AFC, AFC.”
Showing the Canadian youth that you can dream of being a professional women’s soccer player, and that you can do so in your own country, is one of the reasons why this week has been so special for the league, players, and fans. “It used to be me in the stands, cheering on Team Canada, so it’s cool. A full circle moment,” Regan says.
“They deserve it. Women in Quebec, women in Canada, they deserve it.”
This similar feeling was shared by Anna Karpenko in a discussion with Montreal’s head coach Robert Rositoiu before the game. Rositoiu shares that his starting goalkeeper told him that she is used to coming to Toronto–her hometown–to watch men’s teams play. But on Saturday, it was Karpenko who wrote history in goal for Montreal and showed girls in Ontario that women, too, can play the beautiful game professionally.
The Canadian National Team
The NSL kicking off in Canada is not only positive for the future generations, but also for the current players aspiring to one day earn a spot on the Canadian women’s national team. A league on Canadian soil will favor the development of homegrown talent and prevent players from having to play in European leagues to get significant experience.
Additionally, as Canada Head Coach Casey Stoney says, the fast-paced environment she witnessed in the first half of the game will ultimately help the national team grow. Since more Canadian players will get to experience a high-quality level of play every week, the competition to earn a place on the Canadian national team will be more difficult, as more players will have the level to be on the team’s radar.
New Beginnings
The NSL is also a vector of change for any North American women’s sports league launching in the next few years, as the league took a different approach than is usually seen in American sports. Indeed, the league decided not to establish a college draft and require trades to be consensual.
Setting those standards right from the start not only allowed players to have freedom in their decision, but it also encouraged local talents, such as Montreal’s Megan Sauvé, to sign with their hometown teams. On top of that, such standards also helped attract international talent like Toronto players Croix Soto (USA) and Esther Okoronkwo (Nigeria), which is positive for the NSL because it increases the level of play and grants the league more credibility.
The arrival of the NSL is an exciting time for women’s soccer fans and Canadian women’s soccer players of all ages. It’s been a long time coming, and the league will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the making of future soccer stars, both in the short term and long term. “They deserve it. Women in Quebec, women in Canada, they deserve it. I really hope that as a league we’re gonna keep showing what we showed today, what we showed Wednesday...to convince more…youngsters that they can dream. It’s on,” Rositoiu exclaimed.
The NSL will keep writing history this upcoming weekend, with Halifax Tides FC and Ottawa Rapids FC playing their first games on April 25th and 26th, respectively.
