North of Sixty exacted revenge against Greenspace FC in the Christmas 2023 Futsal Tournament.

The Yukon Soccer Association held the tournament this past weekend.

The tourney took place Dec. 29-31 at Porter Creek Secondary School in Whitehorse.

The Star stopped in Saturday evening to check out the action.

One of the games featured a men's game between Greenspace FC (green) team and the North of Sixty (black) team.

Cody Reaume opened the scoring for the green team with about 20 minutes left in the first half.

Ewan Halliday added a second goal to put green up 2-0 about five minutes later.

Leo Whittaker scored the lone goal for North of Sixty with about 12 minutes left in the game to pull them within one, 2-1.

Marek Boulerice then opened up a 3-1 lead for the green.

Mark Chandler rounded out Greenspace's scoring with another goal to make the final 4-1.

The Star spoke with Greenspace defender Tyler Milton after the game.

"It was another high level game," he said. "They've got a great team this year, so, in my mind, they were the favourites going into the tournament. I thought we weren't at our best, but we found a way to win the game, so, it was a lot of fun."

Keeper John London was a key to the Greenspace win.

"It was a cool moment for me, cause I coached John when he was 11 years old," related Milton. "So now I'm playing with him in this tournament. For me, that's what this event's about – bringing the whole soccer community together."

Milton said the tournament featured some of his soccer idols – including Mark Chandler and Cody Reaume – his group of friends he grew up playing with, and a group of players he coached when they were young.

Milton said the key to the victory was defensive organization.

"I think we communicated quite well. In the first half, we took our few chances that we got and then kind of rode our luck a little bit. But I think defensively we were very solid."

Halliday stood out for Milton.

"He barely plays soccer all year and then he comes out to this tournament and is the best player on the field every year."

"We played well," said London. "Coming into the first few minutes, it was a bit shaky. We played a game this morning, so we were a bit dead on our feet. But after that we locked in, defended most of the second half and came out with the win."

London added, "As a team, defending was what won us the game today."

North of Sixty's Craig Caldwell said the game was a preview of the final on Sunday between the same two teams.

"I thought the game was played at a high tempo, even though we both knew we were going to play in the final. I didn't think it was a 4-1 game. It was closer than that. Their goalkeeper, John (London) – I thought John was their man of the match. That says everything about the game. Tomorrow, our shots hopefully will go in."

Caldwell agreed that his team controlled a lot of the play.

"They let us do that, so it was obviously a conscious tactic of them to sit back a little bit and to let us come at them with the ball. Counter-attack-wise, they did well. We made a couple of sloppy mistakes.

"We've got to give them credit. They're a good team. They won it last year. But I think tomorrow will be a little different."

The next game was a female matchup featuring the "Tinsel Toes" red team versus the purple "Twelve Dancing Princesses", the U16 Arctic Winter Games team.

Juno Hanatani struck first for the Princesses only a couple of minutes into the game.

The Tinsel Toes tied up the game with around 10 minutes left in the half, with the Tinsel Toes' Amy Vanderkley scoring her first of two straight.

Vanderkley then put the Tinsel Toes ahead 2-1 following a free kick.

Hanatani struck again with about seven and a half minutes left in the half to knot it up at two apiece.

The score remained 2-2 at the end of the first half.

Kalie Bennett put the Tinsel Toes up again 3-2.

Camille Cashaback St-Laurent tied it up again 3-3.

Jasmine Sealey put the Tinsel Toes up to stay, 4-3, with a little over 11 minutes to play.

Abby Rich rounded out the scoring, making it a 5-3 final over the Princesses.

Rich later said, "I thought it was played well and the teams were well-matched."

Rich thought the key to their victory was "just continuing to push. It was our third game today, so we were all a little tired. I think that showed. But continuing to keep shape and pass it around, that's what really helped.

"Little give and goes is what keeps the ball at our feet and with us.

"I think my whole team played great. A big shout-out to their team. They really pushed us and good luck to them in Arctics."

The reds' Sammy Demchuk, who sat out the game with a hyper-extended knee, said, "It was a little rough start. We were just really tired from playing three games today. I think we definably picked it up in the second and just fought through it.

"The younger team definitely fought their hardest in this game, which is good for us, keeps us on our toes. I think they're definitely ready for their Arctics. They'll be strong."

When asked what the key to victory was, Demchuk replied, "Definitely our hard work together. We have really good team chemistry cause most of us have played together for quite a few years now."

Demchuk also cited a realization that they had to "pick it up" as a reason for them pulling out the victory.

Demchuk added, "All of our girls are working as hard and we're all playing amazing."

The Princesses' Ella Lawerence said she thought the game was "really fun."

"I think we played really well, the best out of the three games we played so far. I think playing with the older women makes us play better."

Lawerence gave a shout out to the Princesses' keeper, Mary London (John London's sister).

"Every game she gives her all and tries her best."

The reds took on the Jingle Ballers (white) in the final and came out on top, 5-1. Kalie Bennet led the way for the reds with a brace. Rich, Sealy and Taliya Lindley added singles.

Christine Moser netted the lone Ballers goal.

In a rematch of the men's game Saturday, North of Sixty exacted their revenge on Greenspace FC by a 5-3 score to take the men's final.

Alvaro Vega netted a brace for the blacks, with Leo Whittaker, Ben Warburton and Dom Pehar adding solo shots.

Halliday again came through for the greens with two of his own. Cody Reaume added a single.