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Yukon goalkeeper Tristan Martin has struck silver at the 2023 Alberta Soccer Provincial championships.

The Alberta champs took place Aug. 11-13 in the Edmonton area.

Martin鈥檚 team, the Edmonton Scottish United Soccer Club, fought valiantly but fell 2-1 in the final to the CalGlen WHU Cavalry.

鈥淚t鈥檚 too bad we didn鈥檛 win first but we played extremely well as a team,鈥� recalled Martin. 鈥淲e showed that we could play.鈥�

Martin pointed out that they were a mostly U17 team playing up one level against U19 teams.

鈥淭he games, they went good. It was different for me because well, the weather was different. It was hotter compared to the Yukon. But we played really well as a team.鈥�

Martin stopped a penalty kick in the semifinal against OUSC Anthem, a key to victory in a game that was 0-0 before the penalty kicks.

鈥淚t felt good. I heard the stands cheering and screaming. It was a really good feeling.鈥�

After Martin made the save, his team scored one more goal to clinch the trip to the finals.

Of his overall play in the tourney, Martin said, 鈥淚 think I did really well. All of my teammates came up to me and told me I did amazing and they were lucky to have me there, to be there for them.鈥�

Martin has been playing soccer since he was five years old and has been a keeper since the age of 13. He competed in the 2020 Arctic Games and the 2022 Canada Summer Games in Niagara.

He has been playing with Scottish United SC for two seasons.

Martin said one of his key strengths as a keeper is his focus.

鈥淚鈥檓 very good at focusing on what鈥檚 happening on the field.鈥�

Catlike reflexes are another one of his strengths.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 probably one of the main things that helps me. Cause I鈥檓 not the tallest.鈥�

Martin is 鈥榦nly鈥� six feet tall.

鈥淔or a goalkeeper, it鈥檚 not short, but it鈥檚 not tall,鈥� he explained. 鈥淏ut I get the job done.鈥�

He said he is also good on set pieces like corner kicks.

Martin would like to continue to improve on his leadership from the keeper position, as far as guiding his team鈥檚 defence goes.

He explained why he decided to come back to Mercier.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 find a place to stay in Edmonton because I was staying with a family and they couldn鈥檛 keep me for another year. So I had to come back.

鈥淚鈥檓 going to continue playing here and keep on training hard.鈥�

Martin will be playing with the Whitehorse Yukon Men鈥檚 Selects FC.

He鈥檒l also be playing for the Selects in the upcoming exhibition games against the men鈥檚 Lethbridge Collegiate College (LCC) Kodiaks team Aug. 22 and 24 on the F.H. Collins turf field at 8 p.m.

鈥淚t鈥檚 gonna be fun,鈥� he said.

As for how far he鈥檇 like to take his career, the goal is pretty clear.

鈥淚 would love to get a scholarship and see where it goes from there.鈥�

Martin said Whitehorse soccer guru Jake Hanson told him that he gave one of the LCC coaches a heads-up to keep an eye on Martin.

According to Martin, Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE) Thunder coach Thiago Silva was planning on scouting him at the Alberta championships as well.

鈥淗e was trying to get some time to come and see me play during during the tournament,鈥� recalled Martin, who wasn鈥檛 sure if Silva had a chance to see him play.

The dream for Martin is, of course, to play pro.

鈥淭hat would be such a dream to be at that level. It鈥檚 always been a dream to go into La Liga, in the Spanish league.鈥�

Martin added, 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 have been here today without dedication and hard work and support from my parents and coaches.鈥�

Those coaches include Sean Fleming, who was instrumental in Martin鈥檚 move to Edmonton, Jake Hanson, Ash Jordan and Scottish United SC coach Scylla Costa.

鈥淭hey all believed in me. They showed me that I was capable of playing well.鈥�