Kamloops derby thriller wows Mac Isle crowd

Ella Simpson used her right boot to spark jubilant madness on Sunday on McArthur Island.

Simpson of the Kamloops Blaze scored the winning penalty in a shootout in a 3-2 victory over Soccer Quest in the Girls B Provincial Cup under-13 gold medal game.

“Tears of joy,” Blaze head coach Jodi Fisher said.

Players and coaches rushed the field to celebrate after the successful sudden-death spot kick, which was preceded by a clutch save by Blaze goalkeeper Piper Kennedy.

“Oh, my goodness, when Piper made that big save, the girls just erupted,” Fisher said.

The match was closely contested, with the Blaze twice relinquishing leads to the relentless Soccer Quest side in regulation.

Simpson and Sophia Ziesman notched goals for the Blaze. Olivia Ferris and Rubi Samaha answered for Soccer Quest.

The game drew a large crowd on Mac Isle and with it added pressure for the teams, most notably when the shootout arrived.

“Absolutely,” Fisher said.

“During the game, they were fine, but once that whistle blew for the penalty kicks, they knew exactly what was happening. Definitely some of them felt the pressure. There were some tears, but we were there to support them and their teammates were great.”

Goals from Ziesman, Nya Fisher, Hailey Duguid and Jaida Marino of the Blaze set the stage for Simpson’s B.C. title-clinching penalty.

“The club is really proud of what these players have achieved this season and the fight they had all weekend,” Soccer Quest head coach Emily Edmundson said. “Shootouts are a tough way to go out after working so hard and coming so close.”

KYSA technical director Ciaran McMahon noted the allKamloops final demonstrates soccer excellence in the city.

“The fans that came out to support these two clubs created an exciting atmosphere that these girls will remember for years to come,” Edmundson said.

The Blaze did not meet for a celebratory meal, but it sounds like a pool party is in the offing.

“It was a great thing to be a part of,” Fisher said. “Most of them are 12 and 13 years old. I don’t think they’re really going to appreciate this moment and how big it is until a year or two later, but they made a great accomplishment this season.”

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Notice of Construction Halston Bridge Rehabilitation

The M inistr y of Transpor tation and I nfrastructure notifies the public that work to rehabilitate the Halston Bridge in K amloops will begin soon

The projec t will improve safet y and minimize the need for future sur face maintenance

Wor k will include resur facing the br idge deck , replacing the deck joints and mak ing improvements to the east abutment Construc tion will star t within the next few weeks and finish in spring 2024

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