Sport Photos
PWHL Toronto Sceptres Edge Vancouver Goldeneyes 2-1 in Emotional Olympic Return at Pacific Coliseum
The first game back after the 2026 Winter Olympics carried extra weight at Pacific Coliseum, where fans welcomed their Olympians home before settling in for a crucial PWHL matchup. Gold, Silver, and Bronze medalists were honoured at centre ice in a pre-game ceremony that recognized the league’s international stars, including members of Team Canada, who returned with Silver after falling to Team USA in the Gold medal game. It was a proud moment that gave way to a focused, playoff-style contest between the Toronto Sceptres and Vancouver Goldeneyes.
When the puck dropped, Toronto wasted little time setting the tone. The Sceptres scored twice in a 57-second stretch midway through the first period, creating the separation they would rely on the rest of the afternoon. Sara Hjalmarsson opened the scoring at 7:10, continuing her strong form after an impressive Olympic showing with Sweden. Less than a minute later, rookie Lauren Messier found the back of the net for her first career PWHL goal, finishing a clean setup from Claire Dalton. Dalton, who assisted on both goals, recorded her first multi-point performance with Toronto and was a steady presence throughout the game.
Those two quick strikes proved decisive in what quickly became a goaltending showcase.
Toronto netminder Raygan Kirk delivered one of her most composed performances of the season, turning aside 25 of 26 shots and controlling the pace whenever Vancouver tried to build momentum. Her rebound management stood out, particularly during extended stretches of pressure in the third period. The only puck that slipped past her came midway through the final frame, when Vancouver’s Izzy Daniel buried a centering pass from Hannah Miller to cut the deficit to 2-1. Daniel continues to lead the Goldeneyes offensively, and her goal injected life into the building.
From that point forward, the Goldeneyes pressed hard for an equalizer. Vancouver sustained pressure in the offensive zone and pulled goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer for the extra attacker in the final minutes, creating several tense scrambles around the Toronto crease. Kirk remained calm through traffic and sealed the win with a series of controlled saves, finishing with a .962 save percentage and earning first-star honours.
Maschmeyer was strong at the other end despite taking the loss. The Canadian Olympic Silver medalist stopped 22 shots and was sharp after the early first-period flurry, giving Vancouver every chance to claw back into the game. Her workload was lighter than usual, but she delivered when tested.
The victory marks Toronto’s first consecutive wins of the season and continues a curious trend: the Sceptres have been far stronger on the road than at home. With 15 road points, they now sit tied for fifth place in the standings with 23 points overall. Both wins on this West Coast swing have come in tight, disciplined efforts, a notable shift from their January visit to Vancouver that ended in a lopsided defeat.
For the Goldeneyes, the challenge remains generating consistent offence. They have now been held to one goal or fewer nine times this season, the most in the league, and despite outshooting Toronto during stretches of today’s game, they struggled to convert sustained pressure into goals. There were encouraging signs, including a six-shot performance from Sarah Nurse and Daniel’s continued scoring touch, but Vancouver will look for more finish in their upcoming homestand.
Today’s matchup felt like a transition point for both teams. The Olympic spotlight has faded, the medal ceremonies are complete, and the playoff race is tightening. In a game defined by early execution and late composure, Toronto found just enough offence and leaned on elite goaltending to secure two valuable points, leaving Vancouver to regroup as the stretch drive begins.
Upcoming schedule:
Toronto: Tuesday, Mar. 3 vs. Montréal at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
Vancouver: Tuesday, Mar. 10 vs. Boston at 7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET
Check out our favourite photos of the game below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
VANCOUVER GOLDENEYES v TORONTO SCEPTRES – MARCH 1, 2026
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Sport Photos
NSL AFC Toronto Defeats Vancouver Rise FC 3-1 at Swangard Stadium
Lauren Rowe continued her impressive scoring run on Sunday, leading AFC Toronto to a 3-1 victory over Vancouver Rise FC at Swangard Stadium. The forward found the back of the net for the fourth consecutive match as Toronto improved to 3-3-2 on the season and climbed into fourth place in the Northern Super League standings with 12 points.
The result gives AFC Toronto the edge in the season series between the two clubs after each side had won one of their previous meetings.
Vancouver came out with plenty of energy and looked like the stronger side during the opening stages. The Rise nearly opened the scoring just four minutes into the match when Abdu broke in alone on goalkeeper Sofia Manner, but Manner came up with the save before the rebound drifted wide. The home side continued to control possession and create chances, forcing Toronto into several mistakes while pressing high up the pitch.
Midfielder Sura Yekka was influential throughout the opening half, helping Vancouver recover possession and move the ball forward as the Rise dictated much of the early play.
Despite Vancouver’s strong start, Toronto made the breakthrough in the 34th minute. After Rowe had an earlier goal ruled out for offside, her shot took a deflection off Vancouver defender Jessika Cowart and found its way into the net. The goal was officially recorded as an own goal, giving the visitors a 1-0 advantage.
The Rise answered just three minutes later through a moment of individual brilliance. Anaïs Oularbi curled a direct free kick into the net in the 37th minute for Vancouver’s first goal scored directly from a free kick this season, sending the teams into halftime tied 1-1.
The second half was more evenly contested, but Toronto proved far more clinical when opportunities presented themselves.
In the 62nd minute, Manner launched a long ball from her own end that found Rowe behind the Vancouver defence. The forward finished confidently to restore Toronto‘s lead and extend her scoring streak to four straight matches.
Toronto goalkeeper Sofia Manner played a major role beyond her work between the posts. Her distribution repeatedly turned defensive situations into dangerous counterattacks, and she was credited with assists on both Toronto goals in the second half after sending long, accurate balls over Vancouver‘s midfield.
Vancouver‘s comeback hopes took another hit late in the match when Cowart was forced off with an apparent shoulder injury in the 87th minute. Having already used all of their substitutions, the Rise finished the match with just 10 players.
Toronto sealed the result in stoppage time as Kaylee Hunter drove through the Vancouver defence, beating two defenders before calmly finishing past the goalkeeper for her second goal of the season to make it 3-1.
Although Vancouver controlled large stretches of possession and generated several quality chances, the Rise were unable to convert their opportunities consistently. Toronto, meanwhile, made the most of its transition game, with Rowe continuing her outstanding run of form and Manner’s long-range distribution proving to be one of the biggest differences on the day.
The victory extends AFC Toronto‘s unbeaten streak to four matches, while Vancouver Rise FC will look to regroup after another performance where strong spells of play failed to translate into points.
Check out our favourite photos of the match below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
VANCOUVER RISE FC v AFC TORONTO
All Photo Credit: Aly Mae
Sport Photos
FWC26 The Voyageurs Lead a Sea of Red to BC Place Before Canada vs. Switzerland
On June 24, Vancouver streets were filled with red and white as Canadian soccer supporters gathered for one of the biggest matches in the country’s history. Hours before Canada‘s FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage meeting with Switzerland at BC Place, fans joined The Voyageurs for their traditional march to the stadium.
The procession began near Main Street, where supporters carrying Canadian flags, banners, and scarves quickly transformed the neighbourhood into a sea of red. Chants echoed through the streets as drums kept the rhythm, drawing cheers from passersby and creating an incredible atmosphere.
The Voyageurs have long been the heartbeat of Canadian soccer support, following both the men’s and women’s national teams across the country and around the world. Their organized marches have become a matchday tradition, bringing together longtime supporters and families attending their first international match.
One of the most touching moments of the march was the tribute to Canadian midfielder Ismaël Koné. Many supporters carried signs featuring the number 8, while others held them high as the procession made its way toward BC Place. The gesture came after Koné suffered a broken leg during Canada’s previous match against Qatar, an injury that ended his World Cup campaign.
With Vancouver serving as one of the host cities for FIFA World Cup 2026, moments like these have become just as memorable as the action inside BC Place. The march showcased the passion surrounding Canadian soccer and highlighted the growing connection between the national team and its supporters.
By the time fans reached BC Place, the energy was impossible to ignore. The sea of red carried its optimism into the stadium, creating a memorable atmosphere before kickoff. Canada ultimately came up just short, falling 2-1 to Switzerland, but the support on display throughout the march showed the growing passion behind the national team. Win or lose, the gathering was another reminder that Canadian soccer culture continues to grow with every match.
Check out our favourite photos of the march below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
CANADA v SWITZERLAND PRE-MATCH MARCH
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer