Blaze hold on for gold

Head coach Cuzzetto and the Kamloops Youth Soccer Association Blaze were in full voice after edging Bays United FC of Victoria 2-1 in the Under17 Boys B Provincial Cup goldmedal game on Sunday.

Mutsa Kanyangu scored in the first half and James Upshaw gave the Kamloops club a 2-0 lead about 20 minutes into the second half.

Bays, which clobbered the Blaze 8-1 earlier in the year in pre-season action, tallied with about 15 minutes remaining in the second half.

“We were on the edge of our bench, for sure,” Cuzzetto said. “It was a full-on defensive clinic from there. Our goalie (John Tomczyk) stood tall and we were able to hang on.”

Prince George downed KYSA 4-3 in the round-robin opener. The 10-men Blaze clawed out a 1-0 win over Coquitlam Metro-Ford FC and finished pool play with a 3-1 triumph over Nelson.

The Blaze were playing for their captain, Jonas Edstrom, who tore his ACL before the tournament.

“It was surreal,” Cuzzetto said. “After losing our first game, the boys battled back.”

The Roster

The U17 Blaze roster includes John Tomczyk, David McClymont, Jacob Nicolson, Mutsa Kanyangu, Kieran Harrison, Zachary Fortin, Armaan Serown, Zoraver Ollek, James Upshaw, Jacob Eichenberger, Markus Molett, Kaiden Goddard, Luca Alas, Jack Bacon, Nolan Stubbings, Trevor Molett, Adam Khelouiati, Abian Latif and Jonas Edstrom.

Staff members include head coach Pasco Cuzzetto, team manager Bruce Harrison and assistant coaches Christiano Ferrara, Aaron Ocano and Tony Cuzzetto.

On The Podium

Four KYSA clubs were in action on the weekend in the Boys B Provincial Cup.

The U17 Blaze won gold, the U14 Blaze claimed silver, the U16 boys won bronze and the U15 boys placed fifth.

The U18 KYSA team placed sixth in the A Cup provincials, which wrapped up on July 2 in South Surrey.