It didn't take long for the Yukon's U-18 Canada Games Soccer squad to find its legs at the 2009 USA Cup.

Competing in the top tier this past weekend, the group proved to themselves they could play with the top squads at the tournament, which is being held in Minnesota.

After starting off the tournament with two losses, the territory's lone USA Cup representative concluded the round robin by tying a squad from South Dakota.

Despite not winning any games, the coaching staff were pleased with the effort the Yukoners put in in each of the three games.

"In terms of the competitiveness with the premier clubs there is really no difference," said Yukon assistant coach assistant coach Rick Reaume. "Our boys tend to be on the younger end of it,"

After flying the 'red eye' out of Vancouver, the Yukon squad didn't have much time to rest before its first game against a Minneapolis team, called White Bear Lake.

Despite having a number of chances, the game ended up 2-0 in favour of White Bear Lake, which scored one goal in each half.

The team's second game was against a team from St. Paul, Minnesota, called the Black Hawks.

This was a closely fought battle that went back and forth, ending 3-2 after a successful corner kick conversion that was headed into the net by one of the Black Hawks' players.

Goal scorers for the Yukon included Travis Olynyk on a nice header, crossed in by Stephen Dynes and Walker Ewing.

Thanks to a pair of goals by Harrison Ewing, the team was able to achieve a better result in its third game, which ended in a 2-2 draw.

Ewing scored first on a free kick, which landed in the lower left corner and then netted the second on break away that bounced off the South Dakota goaltender and into the back of the net.

The team began a week-long tournament today, which is also a part of the USA Cup.

They are guaranteed at least four games at the week-long tournament and can play a maximum of six. The fourth game is a single elimination.

"From what we have seen on the weekend and the way the boys are playing we certainly expect good things to come out of this week long tournament," Reaume said.