The range of emotions following Buena’s win over Salpointe on penalty kicks, 7-6, after the teams were scoreless for the two 40-minute halves, and 20 minutes of extra time, included the Colts swarming to the field and exuberantly celebrating to the Lancers in tears, consoling each other in the event named in honor of their late coach, Kelly Pierce.
The spirit of Pierce, who passed away in August, could be felt for both sides — yes, Buena should openly celebrate a championship well-earned and deserved through hard work — which Pierce always asked of her teams — and of course, the Lancers should express their emotions for the game that means so much to the young competitors.
Knowing how modest Pierce was with the local media, mostly shying away from the attention, she probably is shaking her head from above in disbelief that an event is named in her honor.
Congratulations to Buena for winning the Kelly Pierce Invitational, defeating Salpointe 7-6 on penalty kicks after a scoreless tie after extra time. pic.twitter.com/zkkTy48l6N
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) December 6, 2025
But also true to her ways, she likely is very proud her name is associated with young females who love their sport and play with a deep passion for the game that was on display by Buena and Salpointe on Friday afternoon at Ed Doherty Stadium.
“She was big on that — women supporting women,” Pierce’s successor at Salpointe, Jessica Rushton, said after the game.
“To be able to come back to my alma mater and and help carry on Kelly’s legacy is a huge opportunity, and I’m excited for it. I am going do the best that I can, yeah, with with the help of my great coaching staff, too.”
Salpointe junior Bri Prickett, who scored the winning goal in the 2-1 win over Walden Grove in the semifinals, was named the most outstanding field player of the tournament.
She was emotional when hugging Pierce’s boyfriend Joe Bernier and Pierce’s mother Donna and brother Jeff.
Her teammates chanted, “Bri! Bri! Bri!”
Buena sophomore goalie Ade Ortega helped keep Salpointe scoreless through 80 minutes of regulation and 20 minutes of extra time before the Colts won 7-6 on penalty kicks in the Kelly Pierce Invitational championship. pic.twitter.com/SEuqCPisoS
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) December 6, 2025
Buena’s players and coaching staff also offered an ovation, as did the Lancers when the Colts’ Ade Ortega, only a sophomore, earned the top goalkeeper award.
Although the game ended in a loss for Salpointe after a grueling back-and-forth of two evenly matched teams, the feeling on the field from the Lancers and Colts was girls soccer in Southern Arizona will continue to thrive with Pierce’s spirit as a continual guiding force.
Buena also defeated Salpointe 1-0 in the second day of the tournament during pool play.
“Obviously, it’s a big transition,” Rushton, a former Salpointe and Arizona standout, said of becoming Salpointe’s coach. “As soon as I accepted the job, my goal just to come in and start meeting with them by classes — meeting with seniors, juniors, and sophomores, and get to know them and them get to know me and building that trust.
“I’m never going to be a Kelly Pierce. There’s only going to be one Kelly Pierce. My coaching style is different than hers, too (Pierce a little more demonstrative and Rushton on the calmer side). But I am keeping a lot of her traditions and Salpointe traditions, being a Salpointe alum. I have some big shoes to step in and fill, but going to continue her legacy the best way that I can.”
Pierce would be supportive of Rushton carrying on the winning tradition at Salpointe, which won six state titles in eight seasons with Pierce as coach.
Pierce coached Rushton in 2022 when she served as head coach of FC Tucson Women. As director of coaching at the CDO Soccer Alliance, Pierce also enlisted Rushton to help her coach in that program that has a partnership with Real Salt Lake.
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Buena coach Ignacio Ortega talks about how proud he is of his team’s Kelly Pierce Invitational championship tonight over Salpointe (7-6 in penalty kicks after a scoreless regulation and extra time) after the Colts lost 1-0 in the Brandon Bean Invitational title match last year to… pic.twitter.com/a2OdFOYCOt
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) December 6, 2025
Ortega and Salpointe’s goaltender Ani Jimenez fed off the defense of both clubs to make the matchup a scoreless affair through 100 minutes before the penalty kicks.
Salpointe beat Buena 1-0 in the championship game last year, when it was called the Brandon Bean Invitational.
“It’s great; it’s something really good for our team,” Ortega said of the victory. “Just getting that payback from last year feels great. It feels amazing. We’ve worked so hard.”
Buena coach Ignacio Ortega, Ade’s dad, mentioned that beating a program like Salpointe is “huge.”
“Just the confidence boost it’s going to give the girls moving forward to know they can play with top-level teams, such as defending state champ Salpointe in 4A,” he added. “The girls were actually looking forward to this tournament. … They were looking forward to coming back and get some redemption.
“They know that Salpointe is good but they believe they are equal, a quality team just like Salpointe. They came out and grinded for 100 minutes. It’s just going to be a big confidence boost for these girls moving forward.”
Buena (5-0) will next host Ironwood Ridge on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Salpointe (3-2) will travel to Gilbert Perry on Friday for a match that starts at 6 p.m.
