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Jessica De Filippo Takes Player of the Year, Forward of the Year and the Golden Boot in the NSL’s 2026 Awards

Published

4 days ago

November 11, 2026

Jessica De Filippo, wearing Vancouver Rise FC's dark kit with number 14, sprinting during a night match against Montreal Roses FC

Jessica De Filippo in action for Vancouver Rise FC. Photo: Vancouver Rise FC.

The Northern Super League’s second season belonged to Jessica De Filippo. The Vancouver Rise FC forward led the league with 13 regular-season goals and walked away with three individual honours — Player of the Year, Forward of the Year and the Golden Boot — as the league unveiled its 2026 end-of-season award winners, presented by DoorDash.

The Northern Super League (NSL) has announced its 2026 end-of-season individual award winners, and Team of the Season, headlined by an outstanding campaign from Vancouver Rise FC forward Jessica De Filippo, who claimed three individual honours.

De Filippo earned Player of the Year, Forward of the Year and the Golden Boot after leading the league with 13 regular-season goals. Ottawa Rapid FC midfielder Keera Melenhorst also enjoyed a standout season, securing Midfielder of the Year and Assist Leader honours following an influential campaign.

The nine individual awards recognize the players and coaches whose performances, leadership and contributions helped shape the NSL’s second season.

2026 NSL Individual Award Winners

NSL Player of the Year: Jessica De Filippo (Vancouver Rise FC) — Earned the league’s top individual honour after establishing herself as one of the NSL’s most influential attacking players, combining goal-scoring prowess with an ability to create opportunities and change games.

Forward of the Year: Jessica De Filippo (Vancouver Rise FC) — Recognized for her attacking impact throughout the campaign, highlighted by her movement, finishing ability and consistent threat in the final third.

Golden Boot: Jessica De Filippo (Vancouver Rise FC) — Finished as the league’s leading scorer with 13 regular-season goals.

Midfielder of the Year: Keera Melenhorst (Ottawa Rapid FC) — Recognized for her influence in the centre of the pitch, dictating play through her distribution, vision and ability to control the tempo of matches.

Assist Leader: Keera Melenhorst (Ottawa Rapid FC) — Finished atop the league’s assists leaderboard, consistently creating scoring opportunities and providing the final pass to unlock opposing defences.

Defender of the Year: Julianne Vallerand (Halifax Tides FC) — Earned recognition for her defensive reliability, positioning and leadership, playing a pivotal role in organizing and protecting her team’s backline.

Goalkeeper of the Year: Anna Karpenko (Montréal Roses FC) — Recognized for her outstanding performances between the posts, combining composure, command of the penalty area and crucial saves throughout the season.

Golden Glove: Anna Karpenko (Montréal Roses FC) — Recognized as the league’s statistical leader in clean sheets, reflecting her consistency and contribution to Montréal’s defensive record.

Coach of the Year: Marko Milanovic (AFC Toronto) — Honoured for his leadership and tactical approach in guiding AFC Toronto through an impressive regular-season campaign.

2026 NSL Team of the Season (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper: Anna Karpenko (Montréal Roses FC)
Defenders: Julianne Vallerand (Halifax Tides FC), Tori Tumeth (Vancouver Rise FC), Sarah Rollins (AFC Toronto), Colby Barnett (AFC Toronto)
Midfielders: Keera Melenhorst (Ottawa Rapid FC), Nikayla Small (AFC Toronto), Charlotte Bilbault (Montréal Roses FC)
Forwards: Jessica De Filippo (Vancouver Rise FC), Elyse Bennett (Montréal Roses FC), Kaylee Hunter (AFC Toronto)

Award Criteria and Selection Process

The NSL’s end-of-season awards, presented by DoorDash are determined through a combination of official regular-season statistics and peer evaluation by club technical leadership.

Statistical Awards: The Golden Boot, Golden Glove and Assist Leader awards are determined exclusively by official regular-season statistics, recognizing the league’s leading scorer, goalkeeper with the most clean sheets and player with the most primary assists.

Voted Awards: Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and the positional awards (Forward, Midfielder, Defender and Goalkeeper) are selected by club technical leadership and Sporting Directors through a confidential, blinded voting process. Sporting Directors are not permitted to vote for players or staff from their own club, ensuring an impartial selection process.

Selections consider overall regular-season impact, consistency of performance, weekly player rankings and verified statistical benchmarks.

The Northern Super League congratulates all of this year’s award recipients and Team of the Season selections, and extends its appreciation to the players, coaches, technical staffs and club personnel who contributed to another memorable season of professional women’s soccer in Canada.

Championship Match Details
Fans across Canada can watch the 2026 NSL Final, presented by BMO live on TSN, CBC and RDS, with US fans being able to watch on ESPN+ and international supporters able to tune in globally via NSL on YouTube. Pre-match coverage begins at 1:30 p.m. ET on TSN and RDS ahead of the 2:00 p.m. ET kickoff.
Date: Saturday, November 14, 2026
Venue: TD Place, Ottawa, Ontario
Tickets: NSL.ca/final
Broadcast: TSN, CBC, RDS, ESPN+ and NSL YouTube
Pre-show: 1:30 p.m. ET on TSN and RDS
Kick-off: 2:00 p.m. ET

About the Northern Super League

The Northern Super League is Canada’s first professional women’s soccer league, launched in 2025 with six clubs: Calgary Wild FC, Halifax Tides FC, Montréal Roses FC, Ottawa Rapid FC, AFC Toronto and Vancouver Rise FC. The league will expand to Winnipeg in 2027, bringing its total to seven clubs. For more information, visit NSL.ca.

North Carolina Faces Virginia Sunday for the 2026 ACC Women’s Soccer Championship

Published

23 hours ago

November 14, 2026

We Speak Media

North Carolina Tar Heels women's soccer players in white warmup tops laughing together on the field before a match at Dorrance Field

North Carolina chases a record 23rd ACC tournament title and Virginia chases its first since 2012 when the Tar Heels and Cavaliers meet Sunday at noon ET in Cary on ESPNU.

Second-seeded North Carolina and fifth-seeded Virginia will play for the 2026 Ally ACC Women’s Soccer Championship Sunday at noon ET from First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.

The Tar Heels and Cavaliers will meet in the title match for the fifth time, with previous matchups in 1990, 2004, 2005 and 2019. North Carolina is 3-1 in those matchups, with UVA’s lone win coming in 2004. It will also be the first time since a No. 2 seed has faced a No. 5 seed in the final since 2012, when fifth-seeded Virginia defeated second-seeded Maryland, 4-0. That season was the last time the Cavaliers have won the ACC title.

UNC is in the ACC Championship final for the 30th time and seeks its record 23rd tournament title. The Tar Heels have dropped their last three final appearances (2020, 2022 and 2024) and have not won the ACC crown since defeating Virginia in the 2019 title match. UNC looks to become the first No. 2 seed since Florida State in 2022 to win the women’s soccer championship.

Virginia returns to the ACC title match for the first time since 2021, having won the championship twice (2004 and 2012). The Cavaliers have not allowed a goal in their last four matches and five of their last six contests. It marks the first time a team has advanced to the title match from the first round without allowing a goal since 2020.

Sunday’s final will be broadcast live on ESPNU at noon ET. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 on game day and are available online only; no walk-up sales will be available.

2026 Ally ACC Women’s Soccer Championship

First Round | Sunday, Nov. 8 – Campus Sites

#6 Duke 5, at #3 Wake Forest 4 (OT)
#5 Virginia 3, at #4 Florida State 0

Semifinals | Thursday, Nov. 12 – First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park (Cary, N.C.)

#5 Virginia 1, #1 Notre Dame 0
#2 North Carolina 1, #6 Duke 0

Final | Sunday, Nov. 15 – First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park (Cary, N.C.)

#2 North Carolina vs. #5 Virginia | Noon | ESPNU
All times Eastern

Noting ACC Women’s Soccer

• The 40th season of ACC Women’s Soccer got underway on Wednesday, August 12, while the 39th Ally ACC Women’s Soccer Championship concludes Sunday, November 15, with the championship final from First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.

• The ACC has seven teams in the latest IWSOC/United Soccer Coaches Poll, the most of any conference.

• The poll includes No. 2 North Carolina, No. 4 Notre Dame, No. 6 Wake Forest, No. 10 Virginia, No. 12 Duke, No. 16 Florida State and No. 16 Stanford (tie). Clemson and Virginia Tech are receiving votes.

• The ACC has eight teams ranked among the top 30 in the RPI, also the most of any conference.

• The RPI top 30 includes No. 1 North Carolina, No. 5 Wake Forest, No. 7 Notre Dame, No. 11 Virginia, No. 13 Duke, No. 15 Stanford, No. 28 Florida State and No. 29 Clemson.

• Four ACC teams were named to the initial NCAA Women’s Soccer Committee Top 16, announced on Monday, October 26: No. 1 North Carolina, No. 3 Wake Forest, No. 9 Notre Dame and No. 11 Stanford.

• ACC teams have combined for 86 non-conference wins and a .801 winning percentage, both of which lead the nation.

• A total of 12 ACC standouts were named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Mid-Season Watch List, the most among all conferences. The next-closest conference had six.

• Florida State earned the ACC’s 27th national championship (24th since the ACC began sponsoring women’s soccer) a season ago, bringing the total to 33 national championships among current ACC institutions. No school outside the ACC has won more than two championships.

• The Seminoles defeated Stanford, 1-0, in the 2025 national championship match, marking the second straight year that two ACC teams met for the national title and the third consecutive championship match featuring current ACC members.