Cathro, Barnett sign with AFC Toronto, bringing NSL team roster to 18

By: The Canadian Press Posted: 7:19 AM CST Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025

TORONTO - AFC Toronto has signed former Canadian youth international defender Ashley Cathro and American midfielder Colby Barnett, bringing the new Northern Super League's team roster to 18 players.

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TORONTO - AFC Toronto has signed former Canadian youth international defender Ashley Cathro and American midfielder Colby Barnett, bringing the new Northern Super League's team roster to 18 players.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/01/2025 (610 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TORONTO – AFC Toronto has signed former Canadian youth international defender Ashley Cathro and American midfielder Colby Barnett, bringing the new Northern Super League’s team roster to 18 players.

Cathro, 25, had put soccer on pause to pursue a PhD after playing five seasons at the University of Illinois.

“But when this opportunity presented itself, it was one I couldn’t turn down,” Cathro said in a statement. “A professional women’s soccer league in Canada was always in the talks for a long time coming, but seeing it come to fruition is extremely exciting.”

Ashley Cathro trains while at the University of Illinois in this undated handout photo. The 25-year-old defender has signed with AFC Toronto of the new Northern Super League. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, AFC Toronto *MANDATORY CREDIT*

Barnett arrives from Santa Clara University where she was named to the All-West Coast Conference first team.

Originally from Victoria, Cathro moved to Vancouver during high school to join the Whitecaps Girls Elite REX program.

She went on to represent Canada at the under-17 and under-20 level, including the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Cathro was also invited to two training camps with the senior side in 2017 and 2021.

Cathro, playing at left back or as a left-sided defender in a back three, set a school record for Big Ten starts (48) while with the Fighting Illini. A redshirt in 2019, she played in 78 games (70 starts) from 2018 to 2023, with 70 starts.

“Ashley is someone who had a fantastic collegiate career at Illinois and is someone who was highly regarded by the Canada Soccer program,” Toronto sporting director Billy Wilson said in a statement. “Left-sided defenders are notoriously difficult to find, and as a team who wants to be in possession and build from the back, we believe Ashley will provide us with natural balance.

“She developed a great foundation with the Whitecaps and we were able to tap into some people we trust who worked with her at youth national team level.”

Barnett started 21 games for Santa Clara in 2024 with a goal and four assists. The 21-year-old from Los Alamitos, Calif. was a second-team All-WCC selection in 2022 and 2023.

“Colby is someone we were tracking for some time after watching Santa Clara play in San Francisco in September. We were immediately and thoroughly impressed with her quality,” said Wilson. “She had interest from National Women’s Soccer League clubs, but she’s coming to Canada to be part of our project.”

“She’s very tenacious with a sweet left foot and is comfortable attacking outside in 1-vs-1 moments or inside to combine,” he added.

Barnett attended six U.S. under-15 national team camps.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 30, 2025