Image credit: CFJC Today/Anthony Corea

By Marty Hastings

LITTLE APPLE VS. TOURNAMENT CAPITAL

Kamloops knocks off Kelowna in rivalry tilt at Provincial B-Cup soccer championships

Jul 11, 2025 | 6:45 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops United and the Kelowna Lions squared off in under-16 boys action at the B.C. Soccer Youth Provincial B-Cup Championships on Friday [July 11] on McArthur Island, a pivotal Group A clash with first place up for grabs.

“A little anxious, just nerves and jitters, you know?” United captain Cohen Veller said of pre-game butterflies.

The home side dominated territory and possession for most of the first half, but squandered chances and ran into a stingy Lions’ goalkeeper.

“We knew if we just kept it up, something was going to find the back of the net,” Kamloops midfielder Hukam Khara said.

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United head coach Mike DeCicco talked tactics during halftime, asking his charges to take advantage of a forward-creeping Kelowna back line with through balls to speedy Kamloops attackers.

Veller offered a quick speech and the club responded a few minutes into the second half, earning a free kick after a foray down the left wing.

Santino DeCicco’s set-piece inswinger was nudged home by Rylan Kaarvik, the cool finish giving Kamloops a 1-0 lead.

“I was just super pumped,” Kaarvik said. “I didn’t even know how to celebrate.”

Added coach DeCicco: “There’s nothing better than scoring a goal. You tell the boys this is the stuff they’ll remember for a long, long time.”

Imposing Kamloops goalkeeper Nathan Balison did not have a busy morning, but was flawless when the Lions pushed him into action.

Kelowna had a golden opportunity to equalize late in the second half, but a header went wide and Kamloops soon stormed upfield to put the game away.

Khara took over after a teammate’s darting run was foiled and delivered a pass across goal to Kaarvik, whose second marker secured a 2-0 victory.

“He’s kind of one of those quiet guys on the team,” DeCicco said of the two-goal hero. “He does a lot of defensive things, which is wild. Today, he got a couple.”

The Lions have one win and one tie, the record good for second in Pool A standings.

Kamloops, which is aiming to repeat as provincial champions, can nail down a berth in the gold-medal tilt with a victory on Saturday [July 12] against Abbotsford United Gill (0-1-1).

Game time is 1:30 p.m. on McArthur Island Field 8.

“We don’t want to put the carriage before the horse,” DeCicco said. “We want to make sure we take care of business tomorrow.”

THE TOURNAMENTS

Eighty teams from across the province are competing in girls and boys divisions.

Kamloops United is fielding eight squads, while Soccer Quest FC has two clubs vying for B.C. supremacy.

For the complete schedule and standings, go online to bcsoccer.net.