A group of young Yukon soccer players gained valuable experience at the USA Cup last week.

The U12 Yukon Striker Selects’ title drive was eventually halted in the Gold A Flight semifinal, however, where the team was shut out 4-0 by the Thunder, a pro academy team from Minnesota.

Coach Jake Hanson said typically, he would expect his team to mount a second-half charge, but the amount of games played at North America’s largest youth soccer tournament had his troops low on gas.

“Unfortunately the boys were pretty tired, playing in their ninth game that week,” Hanson said, noting his club was the only one in the quarter-finals to have played in back-to-back USA Cup tournaments.

Originally scheduled to play in the silver flight, Hanson said he spoke with organizers and had the boys moved up – clearly the correct move.

Hanson said the young squad earned plenty of accolades.

Midfielders Rhys Faragher and Ben Kishchuk were both recognized for outstanding play at their positions, while striker Joe Hanson scored 10 goals in nine matches.

Defensively, ’keeper Ole Heath earned five clean sheets and allowed just 10 goals in nine games.

Coach Hanson said one referee went out of his way to compliment the boys on their fine play, and he also enjoyed a chuckle when some parents of a rival squad queried whether the Yukon team contained national team players.

Hanson called the result a “very positive result” for northern soccer.

“This whole experience was extremely important towards the boys’ futures in soccer and developing life skills and having some fun,” he said.

Meanwhile, five Yukon female players helped the Futbol AK Select Chicas, a U16 team from Anchorage, win gold in the Silver A Flight.

Thea Carey scored twice in a 5-0 semifinal win, and Malorie Hanson provided the heroics in the final, scoring to force overtime before the girls won 3-2 in penalties over Minnesota-based Fire FC.