AFC Toronto’s Esther Okoronkwo (centre) celebrates with teammate Kaylee Hunter after scoring against the Vancouver Rise during the second half of an NSL soccer match, in Burnaby, B.C., on Friday, April 24, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Rich Lam

By The Canadian Press

Oct 31, 2026 | 2:39 PM

TORONTO — Kaylee Hunter scored two goals in leading AFC Toronto to a 4-2 victory over Ottawa Rapid FC in the first leg of their Northern Super League semifinal matchup on Saturday.

April Lantaigne and Lena Silano also scored for Toronto, which takes a two-goal aggregate lead into next Saturday’s second leg of the semifinal in Ottawa. Toronto looks to make a return to the final after falling in last year’s inaugural title game to Vancouver.

“It’s an amazing feeling, but I think all of it came from the team,” Hunter said after the game. ” … We need to build off this momentum that we built and go into next week at 0-0. Same momentum and just bring another good game.”

Lantaigne opened the scoring for Toronto in the 12th minute when she slid a shot in off a cross from inside the box from Hunter. It was Lantaigne’s first professional goal.