Game Report: First RD13 Shield Game Complete!
- Elise Coates
- May 6
- 3 min read
It was a weekend to remember! Kamloops United and Nanaimo joined forces to remember and honour Reid Davidson, a well-loved member of both soccer communities, in an epic total points home and home battle. Big shout out to the 400 fans that came out to support this weekend!
WOMEN’S GAME
What a day to secure their first win of the season, and what a win it was! After being two down going into the second half, the ladies’ worked hard to switch up their playing style and stick to it. They tied things up by the 90th minute, thanks to two goals by Avery Henderson, and then in the few minutes of extra time, we got to witness their grittiness and perseverance really pay off. The third and final goal by Bronte Fitzsimmons, a VIU and Peninnsula College alumni, was a work of art. Check out the RUN IT BACK section for the replay!
Fitzsimmons said she felt that the ladies “picked it up in the second half and even at the end of the first half we started to play our game instead of playing over top. We started to play to feet more and we were able to work the ball through the middle, hit our outside mids, and then work it up the field,” which is exactly how RJ Barfoot and Fitzsimmons connected for the final goal! Once they dialled in as Fitzsimmons described, Nanaimo had a number of great goal scoring opportunities in addition to the ones Henderson capitalized on. Victoria Cronkhite’s breakaway in the 48th minute was so dangerous that a Kamloops player ended up with a red card trying to stop it.
The 3-2 win put Nanaimo in the early lead for the Reid Davidson Charity Shield. The pressure was now on the men to maintain that lead.
RUN IT BACK - PLAYS OF THE GAME
We’re all obsessed with Bronte Fitzsimmons’ goal. Ruby Nicholas slotted a beautiful ball between the Kamloops’ defenders from the midfield to RJ Barfoot, who tucked it past the final defender - her first League1 assist - to Bronte cutting in from the top of the box. Bronte’s composure when sidestepping past the keeper was next level.
MEN’S GAME
The men were dominating possession for most of the game, but a short lapse in the second half allowed Kamloops to score 4 goals. Kamloops is currently the top team in the league.
Returning player Ben Creswick gave us the rundown:
The game was pretty good, really good actually. It was our best half of the season until we sort of fell apart there at the end. Right now it feels like when one little thing goes wrong, we sort of fall apart and we have to change that but definitely lots of positives, especially in the first half. It was the best first half we’ve played this season and it was probably the game I’ve enjoyed the most so far before we fell apart.
Ashton Bryant, Charlie Purcell and Suka Behery put on a dribbling clinic and Declan Brown was the king of the overlap. Ben Creswick was a tackling menace and he and Gabe Altomare provided the midfield with a ton of attacking opportunities.
RUN IT BACK - PLAYS OF THE GAME
Marko Ilich put on an absolute goalie master class. His double save late in the game was particularly impressive:
Check out Ashton Bryant’s moves from early in the first half - our midfielders were looking dangerous!
STAY TUNED
And with that, the first leg of the Reid Davidson Charity Shield is complete. Kamloops leads 6-3. Can Nanaimo make a comeback on June 22? A livestream of the away game will be available.
Next weekend, the squads face off against the new expansion team Langley United. On the women’s side, Langley is currently ranked 4th and the men are ranked 5th. How will our teams match up against them? Come down to the stadium Saturday May 10 and find out! Buy your tickets here.
The women kick off at 1 PM and the men go at 3:30 PM at the Q’unq’inuqwstuxw Stadium. Wolf Brewing will be there once again, and the Pepper Pot and One Cool Cookie food trucks will be around for both games for all your snacking and meal needs.
See you at the stadium! United!