Salpointe Catholic girls soccer didn’t get the storybook ending to the inaugural Kelly Pierce Soccer Tournament, but the Lancers did recover to nearly win it.
After losing 1-0 to Sierra Vista Buena on Wednesday, Salpointe (3-1-1) rallied to make the tournament’s final, where it lost to Sierra Vista Buena 7-6 on penalty kicks after a 0-0 draw.
The Salpointe players wrote who they were playing for on tape on their wrists, like Pierce, who led the team from 2017 until last season and died over the summer.
Salpointe girls soccer players write KP in honor of the late Kelly Pierce, former girls soccer coach, on their wrist for the final match against Buena High School in the Kelly Pierce Soccer Tournament, Dec. 5, 2025.
“This year started off, not what we all wanted, but we came into this season knowing we wanted to play for Kelly and even though it was an unfortunate outcome, we still played for her,” said Salpointe senior Bri Pickett. “We played for the people on the wrist, even for the freshmen that didn't know her, they showed up playing for someone out there, so I ask for the rest of the season is everyone just keep pushing and keep their heads up because even though it's unfortunate, I know Kelly's still proud of us.”
After losing to Buena (4-0-1), Salpointe beat rival Walden Grove on Pierce’s birthday with Pickett scoring the winner. The Lancers then took down Mica Mountain 1-0 in the semifinals before holding Buena scoreless in regular and overtime and going to sudden death in the penalty kicks.
“Obviously a tough one for us, I mean, proud of the way we, first of all, responded coming back, having to beat Walden Grove to even make it here to the championship and then coming back after losing to Buena and then face them again, too, just responded really well,” said Salpointe head coach Jessica Rushton. “Obviously it's not a great way to lose off of PKs, which we had those other opportunities to finish in front of our goal, but that's how the game goes sometimes; so unfortunate, but we have a long season ahead and this just beginning for us.”
Salpointe’s Annie Tkalcevic (3) stays tight on Buena’s Hailey Dale (5) during the second half of the Kelly Pierce Soccer Tournament at Salpointe Catholic High School, Dec. 5, 2025.
Pierce led the Lancers to six state championships in the past eight seasons. The Salpointe alumnae also won the Brandon Bean three times, including last year.
Salpointe decided to rename the girls’ Brandon Bean tournament after Pierce.
“While continuing to honor Brandon Bean, we felt it was appropriate to honor Kelly Pierce in naming the women's portion of our annual soccer tournament in her name,” said Phil Gruensfelder, Salpointe director of athletics, in a press release. “Kelly was such an important part of our soccer program, both as a student-athlete and coach. We want her legacy to continue to be a part of our rich history. We will keep her spirit alive by telling stories of her grit, determination and passion. We are honored to host the Kelly Pierce Women's Soccer Tournament.”
The Brandon Bean Soccer Tournament is named after a former Salpointe player who died in 1992 after a collision in a soccer scrimmage. They also honor former Lancer soccer player Laura Kea, who died in a car accident on her way to a tournament.
In January, Salpointe hosts the Diego Gadea Invitational wrestling tournament. Gadea was a Salpointe wrestler who died of a suicide.
Pickett won best field player of the tournament, an award that Pierce’s family gave out, along with best goalkeeper and the team trophy.
Buena’s Daya Washington (20) attempts a bicycle kick over Salpointe’s Bri Pickett (16) during the Kelly Pierce Soccer Tournament, Dec. 5, 2025.
“It was such an honor because I didn't know what the season was to come, I didn't know if I want to play soccer again,” said Pickett, who was choked up at times after the game. “It was just amazing to feel because I know I looked up so much to Kelly and we all did, just to get that, it was just an honor, it was just for her.”
Buena sophomore Adelina Ortega won Goalkeeper of the Tournament.
Pierce, who also coached the FC Tucson Women and was director of coaching for the CDO Soccer Alliance, worked with Rushton at the club. Rushton was previously the Pusch Ridge Christian head coach.
“Kelly was a friend of mine, I had the opportunity coach with her with club soccer, being a Salpointe alum, too, it just means a lot to be able to come back here and obviously some big shoes to fill,” Rushton said. “There’s only going to ever be one Kelly Pierce, I’m never going to be Kelly Pierce, but having the opportunity to learn from her and grow as a coach, too, was definitely a blessing and I'm just thankful to be back here at my alma mater and help lead these girls, hopefully to the state title this season.”
Jessica Rushton, Salpointe girls soccer head coach, speaks to her team during halftime against Buena High School in the Kelly Pierce Soccer Tournament, Dec. 5, 2025.
Although Salpointe is often a state title favorite, the job was more difficult at the start for Rushton, who was 3A Region Coach of the Year in 2023-24, as the team hasn’t been at full strength for long. There was a slew of Lancers who played for the flag football team, which won the state championship on Nov. 22.
Salpointe only had two or three “solid practices” with the full varsity side before its 4-0 win over Tanque Verde on Monday, said Rushton.
“So we had close to 10 players that just joined us, (it’ll) be two weeks this coming Monday,” Rushton said. “So really, I mean, we've had very minimal practices with all of our varsity players, so as we were just telling them, it's a preseason tournament, opportunities to see players in different positions and we just grow and learn from this tournament, carrying us into the season.”
After losing to Buena, a familiar foe appeared in Walden Grove.
Last season, Salpointe and Walden Grove played three times, a 0-0 draw in the regular season, a 1-0 Salpointe win in the Open first round and a 2-0 Lancers win in the state semifinals.
Salpointe or Walden Grove has won the last five 4A girls state soccer championships, with the Lancers winning four of those and the Red Wolves taking the 2024 title.
“It's always a rivalry game playing Walden Grove but like I told them, they've seen this team so many times that they know them like the back of their hands, so to be here at our home and with our tournament and to be able to beat them here, it was pretty special, too,” Rushton said.
Sunnyside boys win Brandon Bean
In the nightcap on Friday at Salpointe, the Sunnyside boys won the Brandon Bean Soccer Tournament 1-0 in the final over Mica Mountain (3-1).
Sophomore midfielder Pedro Vega scored the goal 12 seconds into the game.
Sunnyside (3-1) junior Marc Urrea-Salinas won Goalkeeper of the Tournament, and Blue Devils senior midfielder Aron Ayala won the Field Player Award.
