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With the holiday break quickly approaching it seemed fitting that soccer fans got to celebrate the sport. Last Thursday at the Canada Games Centre, the Selects Men鈥檚 and Women鈥檚 Annual Christmas Showcase was held.

It was the women who got the evening started in front of the packed bleachers. The Women鈥檚 Selects took on the U18 Yukon Girls.

The U18 Girls鈥� team featured players for this past August鈥檚 Western Canada Summer Games held in Swift Current, Alta. and some who will be representing the Yukon at the upcoming Arctic Winter Games.

The Women鈥檚 team also boasted players who had represented the Yukon at National games.

Spencer Rich, the U18 Girls coach, said there were some nerves to begin the game.

鈥淵es there was,鈥� said Rich. 鈥淎ll credit to them. The older ladies came out fast and hard. They took it to us for the first 10 minutes. The game could have got away from us. They were two nothing up in the first 5-10 minutes.鈥�

The games were played in the Fieldhouse, which meant the walls were able to be used during gameplay. Rich said the team had to adjust to the arena style of play.

鈥淚 think they learned a lot,鈥� said Rich. 鈥淚 think some, especially the younger ones, weren鈥檛 ready for the speed and physicality of arena.

鈥淲e play a lot more futsal. It鈥檚 pretty much all futsal now so the physicality, speed and aggression of the older ladies it took them a while to get used to that. I thought that we adapted well and were strong in the end.鈥�

To begin the game, Rich said the Selects Women did a good job playing the arena style.

鈥淭hey played arena soccer, good for them,鈥� said Rich. 鈥淭hey banged it forward and chased and banged it off the walls. That鈥檚 arena soccer and we aren鈥檛 used to that.鈥�

The Selects Women went into the second half up 3-0 but the U18 Girls came on strong potting two goals early before the Women鈥檚 team was able to answer. Rich said the girls were able to get rolling some in the first before controlling the second half.

鈥淲e had chances even in the first half,鈥� said Rich. 鈥淭heir goalie made some good saves. I think it was an even game.

鈥淪econd half we controlled the ball and had more possession, probably throughout the game.鈥�

Although the U18 girls dropped the game 4-3, Rich said he was proud of the groups鈥� resolve.

鈥淔rom the start to finish we improved. We were stronger on the ball. We played quicker and got used to the physicality.

鈥淭hey never dropped their head. I鈥檝e coached a long time and they didn鈥檛 let the game get away from them.鈥�

The U18 Yukon Boys versus the Selects Men鈥檚 was an entertaining game. The Men鈥檚 Selects were able to avenge their loss from the previous year to take the game 5-4.

It was a back-and-forth game as each side had quality chances that the goalies were up to the task on.

The Men鈥檚 Select team opened the scoring before the U18 Boys answered back with two goals of their own.

In the second half, the U18 Boys added to their lead early but the Selects Men鈥檚 team quickly answered.

After the U18鈥檚 potted one more the Selects Men鈥檚 squad pushed for the equalizer. The scored on a rebound and then with just over five minutes remaining they got the eventual winner on an off-speed shot that hit the turf then bounced into the top of the net.

Joe Hanson, on the U18 team, said the game is just a fun time for everyone to play together again.

鈥淚t鈥檚 great,鈥� said Hanson. 鈥淓veryone knows everybody, grew up with each other. It鈥檚 really just a fun time at Christmas, everything is just great.鈥�

Although Hanson said everyone on the pitch was close, that didn鈥檛 keep it from being a physical game with some well-mannered trash-talking going on.

鈥淭hings get intense,鈥� said Hanson. 鈥淧eople want to win, that鈥檚 for sure. It鈥檚 good competition.鈥�

Since the young guys won the showcase last year, Hanson believed the Selects Men鈥檚 team came out even harder.

鈥淭hey definitely didn鈥檛 want to lose again,鈥� said Hanson. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 for sure.鈥�

The bleachers were full to watch the game and Hanson said he hopes everyone enjoyed an entertaining game.

鈥淚 hope the fans enjoyed it, I think they did,鈥� said Hanson. 鈥淚t was a lot of fun.鈥�