Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

YOUTH SOCCER

Kamloops U13 squad captures gold at BC Soccer Championships

Jul 4, 2022 | 4:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — After an undefeated season, the Kamloops Blaze U13 female soccer team struck gold over the weekend. The Blaze captured the BC Soccer Association ‘B’ Provincial Challenge Cup for the first time in this age group.

“It feels really good and means a lot because we definitely deserved it and we worked really hard to get there,” co-captain Georgia Bourgeois explains.

“And for us — Kamloops — we’re not one of the coastal teams you would know,” co-captain Maya Vedd says. “It’s great to say ‘Kamloops won gold.’”

“And we’ve never been on the trophy before,” Bourgeois adds.

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After weathering an early storm from their opponents from Port Moody, the Blaze struck in the 7th minute. Striker Gracie Blair wasted no time getting the shot off and finding the back of the net to open the scoring.

“Georgia went and battled out, and she just, like, poked the ball out,” Blair remembers. “It was just at the top of the 18 [yard box], and I just chipped it right over the goalie’s glove.”

The goal couldn’t have come at a better time, according to Blair.

“There was a lot of relief that came with that because in the first seven minutes Port Moody was dominating,” Blair says. “It was really scary, and I was losin’ faith there. So that one… there was a lot of relief.”

Blair would add another marker in the second half — not quite as pretty, but equally effective. The rest was up to goalkeeper Emilia Lukinchuk, who got the start in the championship game. According to Lukinchuk, she wasn’t really tested.

“They didn’t really get any shots off because our team is so good,” Lukinchuk explains.

“We have a really good defence, so there weren’t that [many] shots,” co-keeper Sara Francis says.

According to coaches Tasha Vedd and Michaela Swan, the team battled not only their opponents but the conditions of the field, as well.

“It was raining — typical Vancouver weather,” Swan says. “We play on grass at home, so to be on wet turf — that’s a different game for us. We took the girls, through Tash, into the change room and we had a big meeting, prior to getting ready — and a big dance party — and it really just set the ground and got the nerves under control, and we dominated.”

While the championship is sweet, the cherry on top of the gold medal came in the form of the Fair Play award, which was decided by the tournament referees.

Image Credit: CFJC Today

“It was amazing. They’ve been such a good group on the field and off the field, and it has a lot to do with our parents who support us and are amazing,” Coach Vedd says. “We’re really trying to develop the girls and I think we got there at the end.”

For these athletes, winning a championship was the perfect way to cap off an undefeated season. They’re already making plans for next year when they’ll play host to the U14 championships on home soil.