Image credit: CFJC Today/Anthony Corea

By Marty Hastings

PREPARING FOR PROVINCIALS

Undefeated Titans taking aim at first senior boys B.C. high school soccer title in South Kam history

Nov 12, 2025 | 4:11 PM

KAMLOOPS — Hardened through penalty-kick pressure and sporting an unblemished record, the South Kamloops Titans are taking aim at school history.

“There’s not a huge amount of success coming out of the Okanagan at provincials,” said Mike DeCicco, head coach of the Titans’ senior boys soccer team. “South Kam has never won or even medalled, so we’re definitely up against it. But I believe that these boys have a good opportunity, just with how they play and how they play for each other.”

The Titans will be among the 16-team field at the B.C. School Sports AA Boys Soccer Championship, which is scheduled to run from Monday (Nov. 17) to Wednesday in Burnaby.

South Kam (15-0) blanked Kalamalka of Vernon 1-0 in the Okanagan championship final and NorKam 2-1 in penalty kicks in the city final en route to provincials.

Week In Review

Week in Review: Week of March 30

Apr 04, 2026

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: Removing bathroom doors at Barriere Secondary increases safety concerns

Apr 02, 2026

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: April 2, 2026

Apr 02, 2026

In the round-robin stage of the Okanagan championship, the Titans were seconds away from a 1-0 victory over Salmon Arm in regulation, when the Golds’ goalkeeper scored to extend the match.

A marathon penalty kick shootout followed and featured more goalkeeper heroics.

“It went through our whole team and then no one was left, so I had to step up,” Titans’ goalkeeper Owen McMillan said. “I was a little nervous. Unfortunately, the ‘keeper got in my head and he saved my pen.”

The Salmon Arm goalkeeper stepped up to the spot with a chance to win the game.

“I looked at his eyes, saw where it was going to go, guessed the right way and got the save,” McMillan said. “The next shooter missed, which was big for us and got us the win. It was really exciting.”

The Titans are drawing confidence from their penchant for pulling through in clutch moments.

“Some of our younger players – Grade 10, Grade 11 – stepping up and making those big shots has a big impact on us winning those games,” Ryder Emslie said. “I missed a penalty shot and the younger guys had my back. They buried the game.”

Added McMillan: “I think it shows how good our team is handling high pressure situations and how composed we are.”

Familiarity is an asset for the South Kam boys, many of whom play together in the club ranks.

“It’s good because we haven’t necessarily had many high school practices, but since we practice two-to-three times a week as a club, I feel like it really kind of joins our team together,” Titans’ defender Finn Prelypchan said.

Added Emslie: “Mike is an exceptional coach and just with the brotherhood he’s built with us, it’s been a great year with him.”

South Kam’s pool at provincials includes Duchess Park of Prince George, Edward Milne of Sooke and McRoberts of Richmond.

Only the pool winner will advance to the medal round.

“I feel like we might be coming in as the underdogs, but I feel like we have strong chances,” Prelypchan said. “We’ve had an undefeated season. We just need to finish our chances, win our games and I feel like we could have a chance of winning the provincial championship.”