Form Guide: Shaffelburg scores, Lawrence is an invincible & Smith honoured
There was history made, and a whole lot of assists in MLS for Canadians over the past few days.
It was a particularly productive week for Canadian women’s national team players, as multiple found themselves on the scoresheet for their respective clubs across the globe.
Here is everything you need to know about how key national team players fared this past week:
Jacob Shaffelburg finally off the mark in 2025
It had been a difficult start to the 2025 season for Shaffelburg, who after recovering from an injury that kept him out for the first few weeks, was scoreless across his first seven matches.
But on Saturday, Shaffelburg looked very much himself as he opened his account for the 2025 MLS campaign, scoring the winner against Charlotte in a 2-1 victory for Nashville. In the 54th minute, Shaffelburg cut in from the right and absolutely blasted a shot with his left foot.
In what is a crucial year for the 25-year-old from Kentville, NS as he looks to take his game to the next level for both club and country, this was a vital moment. Expected to play an important role at this summer’s Gold Cup for Canada, could this be what ignites Shaffelburg’s 2025?
Shaffelburg strikes 🔥
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 11, 2025
Just like that @NashvilleSC take the lead. pic.twitter.com/7YkZnyoaCV
Olivia Smith earns recognition in England for stellar first FA WSL campaign
At just 20 years of age, Olivia Smith has undoubtedly proven herself at the highest level of the game in her first season with Liverpool.
This past week Smith was announced as a nominee for the FA WSL’s Player of the Year award, as well as its Rising Star award. Smith was also recognized by her club as well, earning Liverpool’s Player of the season award, as well as Best Young Player.
She scored seven goals in 20 matches in her debut campaign for the club in all competitions, and will surely receive a lot of interest this off-season from top clubs across Europe.
Ashley Lawrence, Kadeisha Buchanan are invincibles with Chelsea FC
On Saturday, Ashley Lawrence slipped a ball down the right flank into the path of Aggie Beever-Jones who went in and scored a stoppage-time winner for Chelsea against Liverpool.
The 1-0 victory would have otherwise been a footnote in another Chelsea FA WSL title-winning season, but it was also history-making, as Chelsea secured an undefeated season. They are the first side to accomplish this in a 22-match WSL season. With 19 wins and three draws in 22 matches, they secured a sixth straight FA WSL title in a dominant fashion.
Lawrence played in 19 of those matches, scoring once and adding three assists. Fellow Canadian Kadeisha Buchanan was also part of the title-winning side, but an injury limited her to just five appearances and one assist this season.
In other action…
CanMNT
Kyle Hiebert scored his first of the season late in a 2-1 loss to San Diego FC on Saturday, playing the full 90.
Ali Ahmed created his fifth assist of the season with a lovely headed pass to Brian White in the Vancouver Whitecaps’ 2-2 draw with LAFC on Sunday.
Tani Oluwaseyi added his third assist of the season for Minnesota United this past weekend in a 4-1 victory over Inter Miami. Dayne St. Clair made a pair of saves in the victory.
🇫🇮 Robin Lod makes it 4️⃣ and it's absolutely rocking at Allianz Field! 🔊 pic.twitter.com/1VRc2KjiYc
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 10, 2025
Theo Corbeanu got on the assist train for Canadians in MLS this past weekend as well, setting up a Lorenzo Insigne header in a 2-0 Toronto FC victory over D.C. United.
Moïse Bombito went 90 minutes in a 2-0 loss to Rennes on Saturday for Nice. Ismaël Koné started and played 75 minutes for Rennes, putting in a strong showing.
Derek Cornelius and Marseille have booked a Champions League spot for next season, with Cornelius going the full 90 in a 3-1 win over Le Havre.
Stephen Eustáquio went 79 minutes in midfield on Sunday in Porto’s 2-1 victory over Boavista.
Jonathan David played 90 minutes in Lille’s 2-0 loss to Brest on Saturday in Ligue 1 action.
Promise David subbed into match match in the 79th minute in Union Saint-Gilloise's 1-0 victory over Anderlecht on Saturday.
Daniel Jebbison was an 88th-minute substitute for Bournemouth against Aston Villa and narrowly missed scoring the equalizer.
Cyle Larin came into the match in the 66th minute of Mallorca’s 2-1 victory over Real Valladolid.
CanWNT
Vanessa Gilles had a goal and an assist in a 2-1 victory over Dijon in the Division 1 Féminine semi-final.
Julia Grosso scored for Chicago Stars in a 3-2 loss to Washington Spirit on Saturday. Fellow Canadian national team player Gabrielle Carle went 90 minutes in that match for Washington.
Carly Wickenheiser picked up an assist in 55 minutes of action in a 6-1 win for BK Häcken over Brommapojkarna in Sweden.
Jeneva Hernandez Gray scored for Sporting Lisbon in Portugal in a 3-0 victory over Marítimo on Sunday.
Kailen Sheridan made her 150th career NWSL appearance against Portland Timbers on Saturday, and nearly had a clean sheet until a 90+8’ minute equalizer from the penalty spot for Portland in a 1-1 draw. Adriana Leon played the entire second half for San Diego. For Portland, meanwhile, Jessie Fleming started the match and went 70 minutes, while Marie-Yasmine Alidou was a 79th-minute substitute.
Sabrina D’Angelo made three saves in a 3-1 victory for Aston Villa over Brighton in the FA WSL.
Simi Awujo came on in the 89th minute for Manchester United in a 4-3 loss to Arsenal on Saturday. Jayde Rivière was not in the squad for United.
Janine Sonis started and played 87 minutes for Racing Louisville in a 1-0 victory over Gotham FC.
Olivia Smith started and played 69 minutes in Liverpool’s 1-0 loss to Chelsea in FA WSL action.
Nichelle Prince was a 64th-minute substitute in top-of-the-table KC Current’s 4-1 win over Bay FC.
