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The Yukon Soccer Excel Program kicked off Soccer Week in the Yukon this week.

There were sessions Monday and Wednesday for players ages 13 to 18 at the F.H. Collins turf field.

The program was run by Yukon Soccer鈥檚 Technical Director, Sean Fleming, and his assistant, Ash Jordan.

The Star dropped in Wednesday to see how the program was coming along.

Linnea Roberts, 15, one of the participants, said 鈥淲e鈥檙e starting a new program called Excel, and it鈥檚 to help players in the Yukon who want to push their development faster than anyone else in the rec leagues and stuff.鈥�

She said the program featured 鈥渓ots of fast-paced drills focused on skill and movement and some finishing.鈥�

Roberts also gave an update as to what she鈥檚 been up to lately.

鈥淚鈥檓 doing lots of outside camps cause there鈥檚 not much opportunity to play here, so I鈥檓 glad there鈥檚 a new program starting up here to help me develop as a player here in Whitehorse.鈥�

Roberts said she is planning on staying in Whitehorse so far.

鈥淚 really like the Yukon but I鈥檓 looking outside just in case there鈥檚 something that I see that I like.鈥�

Roberts played for the Yukon Women鈥檚 Selects in the first exhibition game versus the Lethbridge College Kodiaks on Tuesday.

鈥淚t was good. It was a tight game.鈥�

The Kodiaks edged the Selects 1-0 on a goal scored with about five minutes left in the match.

We did pretty good,鈥� added Roberts. 鈥淚t was really fun playing at that high level.

鈥淚 like to play with players that are better than me, cause then I can push myself to be a better player.鈥�

Shamus Inglis, 13, explained why he came out for the program.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a more intense training camp focused on training and not games. I think that鈥檚 really good because I want all the training I can get and this is great for all that.鈥�

鈥淲e were just doing this drill where we get in a square and there鈥檚 two teams and try and pass it around and keep possession, score goals. I think it鈥檚 a drill for working in tight space, passing and stuff.鈥�

Inglis is also on the academy and travel teams in Whitehorse.

Leo Whittaker, a striker for Calgary Foothills Soccer Club, was heavily involved in Soccer Week in the Yukon.

He said it鈥檚 going 鈥減retty good鈥� with the club.

鈥淚 was playing with them for a large part of this year, so it鈥檚 fairly new. Had a bit of an injury earlier, which was unfortunate, but other than that, it鈥檚 been going very well.鈥�

Whittaker, 16, said he 鈥渢ore a ligament in his arm playing soccer, which is a weird one. It was not pleasant.

鈥淥ther than that, scoring lots of goals. Being around that environment鈥檚 really good.鈥�

Whittaker is hoping to move up to the Calgary Cavalry in the Canadian Premier League.

He played in the Yukon Selects game against the Kodiak鈥檚 mens team Tuesday.

鈥淚t went well. I scored a goal. Felt it was a good game. We won 3-1, which is good.

鈥淚t鈥檚 good to have that competition in the Yukon, great to have that to come back to and play in, play as much footie (soccer) as you can. It鈥檚 great. It was a tightly-contested game.鈥�

Whittaker is also training with the Kodiaks.

He said he鈥檚 at the field every day, whether it鈥檚 on his own, with family and friends, or in a competitive setting.

鈥淛ust train as much as possible.鈥�

Tristan Martin is a keeper who鈥檚 back in the Yukon after winning silver at the Alberta Championships with Edmonton Scottish United FC. He was taking some free kicks from Whittaker and Kaden Gregory after the Excel program wrapped up for the day.

He said the Excel program is 鈥減retty fun. Liking it and getting some good training out of it.鈥�

Martin was the starter in the game versus the Kodiaks.

鈥淚鈥檓 pretty happy we got to play against the Lethbridge college. Pretty big games.鈥�

He said he was excited to play the Kodiaks again.

鈥淟ooking forward to it.鈥�

Martin said the game went pretty good for him, although he didn鈥檛 face many shots on goal.

鈥淚 only let one goal in, which sucks, but I think I played well.鈥�

Martin was also training with the Kodiaks during the week.

鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to that as well.鈥�

Gregory, 17, said he was just getting back into soccer.

鈥淚 haven鈥檛 really played any soccer since futsal, aside from Canada Games. After that, I just kind of fell into a state of not being able to take my motivation somewhere else, so I鈥檓 just trying to get out here and fall back in love with soccer and hopefully I can do something with it in a few months.鈥�

Gregory plays with the Yukon Selects squad. He also trains at home.

鈥淢e and my father built a rebound wall, so I use that quite often. I鈥檓 just trying to get some more touches out here, not really too, too competitive.

鈥淚鈥檓 getting over quite a few injuries. That鈥檚 kind of what pushed me away from it but I鈥檓 finding that motivation again, so I鈥檓 hoping that I can take this somewhere else.鈥�

Gregory said he鈥檚 looking forward to playing the Kodiaks after missing the first game due to work and school.

鈥淚鈥檓 really trying to take advantage of it. I鈥檓 really trying to get out there again because I really like to use my speed. That鈥檚 one of my best qualities. So I just hope to be able to get out there and not hurt myself and gave a good time.鈥�

The remaining schedule for Soccer Week in the Yukon looks like this:

Kids鈥� Soccer Saturday at F.H. Turf 鈥� ages six to 14

11:30am 鈥� 12:00pm 鈥� registration

12:00pm 鈥� 1:30pm 鈥� kids camp coached by college players

Exhibition games:

2 p.m. at F.H. Turf 鈥� Lethbridge Women鈥檚 Team vs Yukon Women鈥檚 Selects

4 p.m. at F.H. Turf 鈥� Lethbridge Men鈥檚 Team vs Yukon Men鈥檚 Selects