AFC Toronto Beat Ottawa Rapid 4-2 in NSL Semifinal First Leg as Hunter Scores Twice

AFC Toronto beat Ottawa Rapid FC 4-2 at York Lions Stadium on Saturday, October 31, 2026, in the first leg of their Northern Super League semifinal. Kaylee Hunter scored two goals for Toronto, and she also set up one goal in a Player of the Match performance that leaves Toronto two goals clear before the second leg.

Hunter leads the scoring

April Lantaigne opened the scoring in the 12th minute, sliding in a cross from Hunter. Hunter scored two goals herself, and Lena Silano also scored for Toronto, giving the home side four goals from three different scorers.

Silano made it 3-0 in the 55th minute on a rebound from a Hunter shot. Hunter completed her brace in the 67th minute on a feed from Silano. On those two goals the pair traded roles, with Hunter creating the chance that led to the Silano goal and Silano providing the pass for Hunter to finish.

Reports from Waking the Red also credited Hunter with a hand in another Toronto goal, to go with her two goals and her assist for Lantaigne. Taken together, Hunter played a direct part in the scoring across the match, from the opening goal in the 12th minute to her second goal in the 67th minute.

Penalty save holds the lead

Toronto goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo denied Ottawa striker DB Pridham from the penalty spot in the first half. D'Angelo is the Canada women's national team goalkeeper, and the save came before half time, while Toronto were building the lead that Silano later extended to 3-0.

Choo Hyo-joo and Keera Melenhorst scored for Ottawa. Their two goals are the reason Ottawa go into the second leg only two goals behind, rather than facing the full 3-0 margin that stood after the 55th minute or the four goals Toronto scored in total.

The final score was AFC Toronto 4, Ottawa Rapid 2. Toronto reached 3-0 through Lantaigne, Hunter and Silano, and Hunter added her second goal of the match after that run, while Choo and Melenhorst replied for the visitors.

Second leg decides the series

Toronto takes a two goal aggregate lead into the second leg at TD Place in Ottawa on Saturday, November 7, 2026. The semifinal winner is decided on combined score across the two matches, so the 4-2 result at York Lions Stadium carries directly into the return match.

Toronto is trying to return to the NSL final after losing last year's inaugural title game to Vancouver. The winner of this semifinal advances to the championship final at TD Place on November 14, 2026, one week after the second leg.

Ottawa will host that second leg at TD Place with a two goal deficit to make up. Toronto will travel to Ottawa with the lead, knowing the combined score across both matches decides which team reaches the final.