Academie Parhelie (formerly Ecole Emilie Tremblay) upset the field at this weekend's Yukon High School Soccer Tournament Championships, when they won their first high school soccer tournament.

Organizer Dave Stockdale said the school surprised the other teams when they took the junior tournament 3-2 over the Porter Creek Rams.

"That's the first time they've won a high school soccer tournament,” said Stockdale.

In the round robin, Academie Parhelie took both of the games against the Porter Creek Rams and the F.H. Collins Warriors.

"They're a very very small school with very few players to choose from,” said Stockdale.

Players faced a tough challenge Friday, as a strong wind blew against the participants, making play more difficult, but Stockdale says they never wavered.

"The only problem was that big wind,” he said. "It's hard to play in that.”

In the senior game, F.H. Collins and Porter Creek were up against a difficult team from Vanier Catholic Secondary School.

"Vanier had a very very strong team,” said Stockdale.

While the team put in a great effort, they were ultimately upset by F.H. Collins, who took the gold medal game 4-3.

"F.H. did really well to beat them in the final,” Stockdale said.

While Stockdale is disappointed with the lack of teams in this year's tournament, he is happy with the games played.

"The kids are always enthusiastic whey they're playing against another school,” he said.

With the junior league's three teams, and the senior league's four, only Porter Creek had to play against their own team. The school put in two teams, team A and B who battled it out for the bronze medal game. Team B came out on top 3-2 over Team A.

Stockdale and fellow organizers face challenges getting kids rounded up for the tournament due to the late start to the school year. With the school year starting mid week before Labour Day, Stockdale had only a few days to organize teams and write up the schedule.

"It was difficult to get the teams together,” he said. "We didn't have as many teams as usual.”

Also causing problems was the many other activities going on around Whitehorse this weekend, including the Terry Fox Run and the Klondike Road Relay, which Stockdale says may have caused some players to skip out on games.

For those that did show up, the games were mostly close, with some heading into overtime.

The final bronze medal game between Porter Creek's A and B teams was almost decided by a coin toss, Stockdale said. Organizers convinced the teams to play two 15 minute periods, which eventually ended in a shootout.

Stockdale says the tournament is a good way to get students involved who love soccer but don't get a chance to play.

"It's good for kids who don't normally get to play in a tournament,” he said.

Stockdale thanked the coaches and referees who came out to help at the soccer tournament.

Stockdale is looking forward to this weekend's elementary school soccer tournament, and expects an enthusiastic group of players - and a bigger bunch of teams.

"All the elementary schools take part,” he said.

See the elementary school soccer tournament schedule later this week in the Whitehorse Star.

2009 Yukon High School Soccer Championships

Results

Grade 10, 11 and 12

Place School Score

1 F.H. Collins 4

2 Vanier 3

3 Porter Creek ‘B' 3

4 Porter Creek ‘A' 2

Grade 8 and 9

Place School Score

1 Academie Parhelie 3

2 Porter Creek 2 and 5

3 F.H. Collins 2