Two Squamish locals helped Team B.C.’s soccer club strike gold at the North American Indigenous Games, defeating Eastern Door and North, which represented Quebec.
Julia and Jazmyn Williams were two members of the Squamish Nation who managed to play a part in the Team B.C.’s 3-0 victory last month.
The girls aren’t sisters, but aside from a common last name, they also have a shared passion for the game.
While being part of a winning under-19 girls team was a good perk, Jazmyn said her favourite part of going to the Indigenous Games wasn’t necessarily winning – it was spreading her enthusiasm for the sport.
The 17-year-old said that standing on the sidelines and cheering on the under-19 boys’ team and the under-16 girls team was one of the most memorable things she did at the games.
“We were on the sidelines cheering every game,” she said.
Both of those teams placed first, as well.
Jazmyn said the road to victory was paved with a lot of hard work.
She and her team members practiced three hours once a week, and ramped it up to twice a week when the Indigenous Games got closer.
Jazmyn also added that she likes playing defence.
“It’s forwards that win games, but defense that win championships,” she said.
But the games weren’t without challenges.
“I think the hardest part was being away from my family,” she said.
For 16-year-old Julia, some of her favourite memories were made when she spent time with her teammates.
She said she enjoyed “getting to know all the girls, because before me and Jaz – we just kind of like did our own thing.”
“We kind of all became friends,” she said.
The striker said the team had a lot of good times getting things to eat or drink together.
But there were some difficulties. One big obstacle at the games was the heat.
Julia said she even saw someone from another team get heatstroke.
However, that didn’t stop Julia from playing her best.
On the field, she relished in scoring, managing to get a goal during the games at the semifinals.
“It felt great,” she said of that goal.
