MOOSE JAW The Yukon men's Canada Summer Games soccer team didn't come to Saskatchewan aiming to hit the podium.

They just wanted to prove to everyone that the Yukon belongs on the same stage as the provinces, and on Monday evening, the squad did just that, as they sent a shell-shocked Nova Scotia crew back to the dorms with a 1-1 tie.

'Astounding,' one of the Nova Scotia coaches was overheard remarking as he walked the field following the final whistle. 'Just astounding.'

After all, nobody knew much about the team from the territory, and it seemed like nobody was taking them too seriously. Not to worry, though, Yukoners are used to that sort of thing. And this time around, they weren't having any of it.

'I think it's to our advantage (that people underestimate us),' said Yukon defender Calef Staples, a complete force for the squad in their match Monday. 'We like being the underdog. It makes it a lot easier, because then the first 10 to 15 minutes can be ours.'

That's exactly what happened against the maritime province, as the Yukon maintained ball possession the majority of the first half, grabbing chance after chance before Paul Fraughton finally found the back of the net on a rebound.

It was a goal which was long overdue, as Fraughton made the Nova Scotia defence look weak on a few occasions, using his size and speed to get around them. He hit the post just prior to netting the territory's lone goal.

'That was bad for the confidence,' he smiled, when asked about running into a goalie's best friend. 'But I just stayed in there, got a few more chances, and finally one went in.

'Their goalie was amazing.'

Yukon goaltender Jared Eeles also made some brilliant saves when called upon, although he had a lot of help from Staples, who was often left alone with Eeles to defend the net.

The two were especially put to the test toward the end of the second half, as Nova Scotia piled on the pressure after tying it up. After a dominating first half, in which it could have easily been 3-0 for the territory the Yukon crew just seemed to run out of gas, hanging on for the tie.

While the territorial athletes were hoping for a victory in their first contest at the Games, most of them were glad to escape with the deadlock something that Yukon soccer hadn't ever achieved against the provinces at the Games.

'I'm actually pretty happy with a tie,' said Staples. 'They were ranked third coming into the tournament. We really kind of collapsed in the second half, but we hung in there, and that says a lot about us as a team.'

It's a team which began the Games down by two players, including one of their top defenders, Forbes Campbell. Campbell couldn't make the trip because of an injury suffered during a tournament last month. Mateo Guevara was also forced to withdraw, due to problems with citizenship.

'It's definitely a disappointment to lose Forbes, because he's one of our best defenceman,' said Fraughton. 'But Branden Carey, he's just 16, and he played amazing (in Campbell's place). He's been really working hard, learning so fast.

'He's a phenomenal young player. He's going to be a star in years to come, guaranteed.'

Fraughton was perhaps the most disappointed with the tie, speaking candidly after the game about being 'lucky.

'A lot of the guys...everyone's a bit almost too happy about it. In reality, they did beat us in the second half and probably should have won the game.'

Head coach Spencer Rich was quick to disagree with Fraughton, stating he was proud of all his players, although he was a bit disappointed in the difference between the first and second halfs.

Rich said Nova Scotia showed why they were the third seed coming into the Games in the second half Monday, but pointed out the Yukon was able to match them.

'It was a great game,' he said. 'Paul (Fraughton) was a machine in the first half.

'We came to play and it showed, and we proved we could play at this level. We're excited, but we're also focused.'

Rich said there's no time for the team to celebrate, as they prepare to take on host Saskatchewan tomorrow morning. Immediately following Monday's contest, the team boarded a bus back to Regina all men's soccer games are being held in Moose Jaw where they planned to eat dinner and drink a lot of fluids before hitting the sack.

'Saskatchewan has seen us now, so their going to be really tough,' said Rich. 'I believe we're going to be in the game tomorrow. All I can ask for is to be in the game and then we'll go from there.'

Staples said the Yukon needs to capitalize on their chances more in Tuesday's game, as well as pace themselves better so they can come out just as strong in the second half.

'If we can get a win or a tie, we'll make it through to the second round, which would be great,' he said. 'If we can come out with a bang and shock them in the first half, we'll have a good chance.'

Ideally, the Yukon would like to finish first in their pool, which would take a win against Saskatchewan. If that's the case, they would draw New Brunswick in the quarterfinals. If they came in second, they would face off against Quebec, which is rumoured to be perhaps the strongest team at these Games.

NOTEBOOK: Seen on the charter flight from Whitehorse to Regina...Yukon captain Boris Hoefs cleaning his cleats with a plastic knife and a wet cloth during some down time...always the leader, he was quickly followed by teammate Charles Mann...Hoefs was also spotted just minutes later asleep with one cleat held protectively in each hand...hey, whatever works...Several members of Mann's family, including his parents and sister, made the trip to Regina and Moose Jaw from residences in Ontario and B.C....most of them donned a T-shirt made especially for the trip, which featured a picture of Mann as a young child in his soccer gear and his Yukon team number on the shoulder...