Was it ever in doubt?
Ally Rowe's hat-trick highlighted a dominant performance by the Simcoe County Rovers F.C. women (45 pts.) in a 5-0 League1 ON Women's Premier title-clinching win over Vaughan Azzurri (26 pts.) Saturday at J.C. Massie Field.
The Rovers entered the match tied with North Toronto in first place with 42 points and a match in hand. Additionally, NDC Toronto was set to play its final match of the season later in the evening, behind by just one point.
Simcoe County hadn't lost a match in league play since its second match of the season April 26 on the road against North Toronto. That was the club's only loss during the League 1 ON season, and one of only four matches from which the club didn't come away with three points.
"Going into this game, we know who we are as a team," Rovers captain Adriane Devlin said post-match. "We know where we belong, we knew that this was ours from the get-go. The two goals were nice in the first half; it really secured it for us. But from day one, we kind of had a feeling that we were special and we deserved it."
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 | Rowe ⚽ 16', 61', 76' Young ⚽ 40' Handley ⚽ 89' |  |
RECAP
Goalkeeper Maddie Healey started for Simcoe County, but was substituted by Marilena Spagnolo, who made some key saves in the first half, 18 minutes in.
Some close plays occurred early but Rowe potted her first goal off the crossbar in the 16th minute to break the ice.
Five minutes later, Stefanie Young deked around Vaughan keeper Charlotte Phillips and buried her eighth goal of the season into the open net.
Vaughan's tactical play throughout the first half was visibly frustrating for head coach Jorden Feliciano, who received a yellow card in first-half stoppage time.
And it didn't get any better in the second half.
Simcoe County controlled possession for at least 75 per cent of the remainder of the match, seldom playing in its own half.
"It was just about making sure that we were urgent and we wanted to continue to play at our standard," head coach Zack Wilson said post-match. "We didn't want it to drop."
In the 61st minute, Rowe secured a brace, heading in a cross from Soumaya Bouak.
She completed her second consecutive hat-trick with a highlight-reel volley after tipping the ball up and over a Vaughan Azzuri player.
Teagan Handley capped off the performance with a corner kick in the 89th minute that only touched goalkeeper Emma Wehkind's hand as it curved in.
From then, the anticipation grew as the four minutes of second-half stoppage time ticked down. Eventually, the celebration began.
CELEBRATION
"There's no better way to go out with such a great group," Rowe said post-match. "We've worked all year towards this and for everything we've been working towards to come true in the end is amazing."
"It's not easy to win a trophy, club president and CEO Peter Raco said post-match. "To do it twice now as a young [organization] in a new community, having thousands of fans come out year-in-year-out here; it's a phenomenal feeling.
Centre back Abby Wroe, described as a club veteran, was one of the most excited players in the celebration.
"I am beyond happy," she said post-match "I'm losing my voice just from cheering so much."
Wroe surpassed 50 appearances with the club earlier this season, but recognized that coming into this season with a largely new roster didn't faze the team down the stretch.
"We all connected so well with each other. We all had each other's backs on and off the field, so it's a really special moment to just be here with everyone."
"As a coach, that's what we look forward to," Wilson added.
"I'm speechless."
ROWE'S DOMINANCE
Rowe's three goals put her four goals clear of Guelph United's Olivia Brown for the League1 ON goalscoring lead. If Brown doesn't surpass Rowe in her final match of the season Monday, it will be Rowe's first League1 ON Golden Boot.
Her end-of-season performance was marvelous, to say the least: Two hat-tricks in four days after three goals in Waterloo Wednesday. She also had a hat-trick on May 20 in Guelph.
"She's so good," Devlin commented. "She scores banger after banger. Can't ask any more of her."
Saturday's performance marked fourth consecutive multi-goal match, and eighth overall this season. She also had two goals in L1 Women's Cup play.
Wilson continued to stress post-match that U Sports players and athletes deserve more respect compared to their NCAA Division I counterparts.
"I believe in this group, he said. "We're a majority of U Sports players. U Sports players deserve way more respect, and I hope that puts the league on notice."
Rowe has a large collection of accolades from her college career at Cape Breton:
- 2024 U Sports Player of the Year
- 2019 U Sports Rookie of the Year
- Four-time first-team All-Canadian (2019, 2022-24)
- 2019 U Sports All-Rookie team
- Three-time AUS champion (2019, 2022, 2024)
- Five-time AUS All-Star (2019, 2021-24)
- AUS all-time leading scorer (77)
- Cape Breton all-time leading scorer (77)
- AUS single-game goal record (6)
- Five-time Academic All-Canadian (2019, 2021-24)
HOME CLINCHER
Unlike the Rovers' men's side that won the 2023 League1 ON championship, the women's squad won the 2025 title with a clinching performance at home.
Simcoe County's men's team won the 2023 League1 ON final at Ontario Soccer Centre in Vaughan, which was a predetermined host for the league's championship match.
"At home, it's a little bit different," Raco said. "To do it in front of our home fans, friends, and family... It's really impactful. That's what we're trying to drive, impact in the community. To see these young girls looking up to the Rovers players—it's phenomenal."
This is the first championship clinched at home by any of the major Barrie sports teams (Colts, Baycats, Simcoe County Rovers F.C.) since the Baycats clinched the 2015 IBL championship at Coates Stadium.
It only happened one other time with the Baycats (2005), while the Colts' only J. Ross Robertson Cup was won in Plymouth, Mich.
UP NEXT
August 8 marks the beginning of the 2025 Inter-Provincial Championship in Sherwood Park, Alta. The televised draw on July 26 determined the League1 ON champion will face the League1 BC champion, Altitude F.C., in a single-match knockout semifinal.
"We just got to keep our energies high, keep the intensity up, and know that we're fighting for it with each other and for each other, and we're going to come out on top," Rowe said.
Calgary Blizzard S.C. is representing League1 AB and is set to play against the soon-to-be crowned champion of League1 QC.
It's unknown if the winner of this tournament will qualify for the 2026-27 CONCACAF W Champions Cup. The previous two champions have qualified to represent Canada in the next edition of the continental club championship.
