NSL Tactics Board Weeks 4-8

Teams have now played between 7-9 games (just about a third of the season) and there’s not a lot separating the teams. Other than Halifax, teams ranked 2-5 are within 4 points of top spot.

Legend:

Coloured font = home game

Italicized = indicates a different starting xi for this game (players also italicized)

Montreal faltered a little in weeks 4-7. Hopefully it wasn’t a newsletter curse after praising them last time out. Boychuk’s absence was certainly felt and her return to the pitch was crucial in this week’s 2:0 win over Vancouver.

Latifah Abdu had to shoulder the responsibilities up top, and did so admirably, as evidenced by her recent call into CanWNT camp, which was extra special as half of it took place in her hometown of Montreal. Abdu is second in the league in Shots on Target (9) and Total Shots (15), and ranks 4th in goals (tied with 6 other players). Her speed in the channels, dribbling ability, and audacity to shoot from wherever she finds space have defined her game so far.

My second pick is Jodi Smith, who has started 6 of 7 matches at Left back. Shining both offensively and defensively, the former Florida Atlantic University standout has been a revelation. She has won the second most tackles league-wide proving herself to be extremely difficult to beat in one-v-one situations. Additionally, she helps build Montreal’s attack, providing width and composure on the ball (led the team in touches in the last two games) while balancing defensive responsibilities when Haley Whitaker, Montreal’s more attacking right-back gets up the pitch. 

Last but not least, co-captain Megane Sauve has been a standout, not only because of her assist vs Ottawa last time out but also because of her all-round play. The left-footed midfielder has played nearly every minute, takes charge of set pieces, often plays the final ball / cross, and also excels in the defensive phase. You can see her leading both by example and vocally on the pitch. If you’ve been reading this newsletter for a while, you know I’ve been a M Sauve fan for some time, so it’s amazing to see her shine in the NSL.

As you can see from the above graphic, the Rapid have stuck with what’s been working in their first five games. Their 4-3-3 formation hinges on a strong spine combined with dynamic wide players. DB Pridham has been a revelation up front and leads the league in goals (7) and scored her first hat-trick against Toronto. The American-Canadian dual-national’s play style is reminiscent of Evelyne Viens, with a directness and speed that makes her dangerous on and off the ball. One of her strengths is her ability to create depth with well-timed runs beyond the defensive line.

Luckily, she has a center-back who’s often able to spot her runs and deliver quality balls over the top. NWSL alumni Jylissa Harris has been another bright spot for Ottawa. She plays like a quarter-back, comfortable on the ball and with the ability to precisely break lines with her passing. She leads the Rapid in touches and looks just as good without the ball, acting as the vocal leader in the backline.

We gave the midfield trio of Scott, Gibson, and Min-A a ton of love in the last tactical analysis, so let’s share it and give a shoutout to Stella Downing, who played her way into the starting XI over the past few weeks. The 22 year-old forward has been a force down the left wing, driving the line or cutting inside with purpose and pace, causing all types of trouble and opening up space for fellow attackers. She deservedly won her first Rookie of the Week award in Week 4 and scored her first goal in week 8. Her 8 shots rank her among the highest per minute league-wide. She’s been fun to watch, so keep an eye. 

Maybe I underestimated Calgary, but I am a little surprised to see them hanging as well as they have. The Wild are tied for third, behind Montreal and Ottawa and on 11 points with Vancouver. For the most part, coach Bedford stuck with a similar XI for most of their games over the past month. A big part of the strategy has been building around midfield duo Jaclyn Sawicki and Meggie Dougherty Howard. The experienced midfielders have shown their class throughout. Sawicki tends to play a deeper play-making role, while MDH is more of a box-to-box player. The former connects the backline to the midfield, the latter connects the midfield and the front three.

Grace Stordy has led the league in tackles with 32 in her first 7 matches. The Calgary is blossoming into the right-back role for her hometown club. She approaches each match with intensity and grit, playing nearly every minute so far. After a difficult experience abroad in Portugal, it’s great to see Stordy comfortable and living up to her potential. 

Lastly, Serita Thurton has been a standout for the Wild. The forward from Ajax, ON who played for USF in the NCAA is giving young Deanne Rose. A constant threat on and off the ball, her speed makes her dangerous on the press and on the counter, and her dribbling abilities can unbalance any defensive line in the league. Despite being a relatively late addition to the squad, the 23-yo has made an instant impact and the scariest part is that she’s not even close to done with her development.

If anything became really clear over the past few games that Quinn and Stanton missed due to injury, it’s exactly how crucial both of those players were to the Rise’s early success. With their trusty QB (Quinn) missing, the Rise’s ability to dominate the middle third and break down opposition defenses has been diminished. Quinn returned to the pitch this week and a few players stepped up in their absence.

Sam Chang is inching closer to top form after overcoming an injury that kept her out of the first few games of the season. The midfielder has been relied upon to dictate the pace of the game and connect the back and front lines. Able to play any midfield position, Chang has shown her versatility and leadership over the past few games. There’s no information about an expected return to play date for Stanton and Sofia Hagman has been sporting a taped quad, so Sam Chang will continue to play a pivotal role. 

Lastly, I want to shout out 17-year-olds Emily Wong and Chloe Taylor who’ve stepped into the starting XI, due to aforementioned injury troubles, and looked up to the task. Both Vancouver Whitecaps NDC / Rise Academy players who have excelled at the YNT levels have been added to Vancouver’s roster on the NSL website. Taylor was brilliant at CB. She played the most passes and had the most touches among all Rise players in both of her starts. She played a precise long ball to Holly Ward to earn a secondary assist against Calgary. Taylor is committed to Auburn starting in 2026 and Wong is committed to NC State this Fall, but it remains to be seen whether their recent addition to the full Rise roster impacts their eligibility. Selfishly, I hope they stick around in the NSL.

AFC Toronto stayed true to their tactical blueprint and it paid off in weeks 4-7, but really hurt them in week 8. Their 3-4-3 formation allows them to dominate their opponents with a high press and overloading wide channels. Against Ottawa, the space between the center-backs and wingbacks was easily exploited. While they’re still working out their preferred back three, the midfield, wingbacks, and forwards have been consistent.

Nikayla Small, who leads the league in assists (tied with Forbes at 3), has found herself playing the right wingback position after initially playing as a forward to start the season. She didn’t miss a beat, earning two assists since making the change, which pushed Shaina Ashouri higher up the pitch. 

On the opposite side, Colby Barnett has been a mainstay since game one, playing every minute and causing constant overloads down the left flank. Her fitness and intentionality have been one of the most important factors in AFCT’s surge and she scored her first goal against Halifax. Both Small and Barnett are in the top in touches across the NSL. 

Lastly, Esther Okoronkwo flew under the radar when she initially signed with Toronto in February, but her presence and goals have been impactful. The Nigerian international’s hold-up play, incisive runs, and audacious goals have been instrumental, especially when AFCT switched up their tactics to unlock more direct play into their central striker. As Jade Kovacevic’s return looms, it’ll be interesting to see how Esther’s role changes.

You may not agree with me, but I think Halifax is gonna be fine. Apart from the one blowout, they’ve been in every match and you can see that they’re close to unlocking that next level. One of the reasons I think so, is because they are slowly but surely figuring out how to best use their talented forwards. Saorla Miller popped up with her first goal vs Vancouver and followed it up with her second and first assist against Calgary a few days back. Primarily deployed down the right flank, the Haligonian has a high work rate enabling her to regain possession and drive down the wing with pace. She often leads her team in crosses and finds perfectly timed runs into the box, as seen by both of her goals so far.

My second pick is another Nova Scotian native, Syd Kennedy. The former YNT player and Florida Gator alumni, compliments Miller perfectly down the right wing. Her pace and directness causes plenty of problems for opposition defenders, as does her unrelenting drive to the net and ability to cut in on her preferred left foot. She led the Tides in shots in the last three games, and she has also been taking in-swinging set pieces from the left. 

My last shout goes to someone who just arrived in recent weeks. Defender Annika Leslie (also from Halifax) recently graduated from West Virginia University. She was a mainstay with the CanW20s in the last cycle and can be used both as a central and wide defender. With 11 goals against, the Tides need to shore up their defense first and foremost. Leslie, who made her debut against Calgary, should be a key player in making that happen.