It was that close. Ben Kishchuk had a chance to make Yukon history in the Consolation Round soccer semifinal between Yukon and B.C. Thursday at the 2022 Niagara Canada Summer Games.

Kishchuk had his foot on the ball on a pass from Kade Bringsli right in front of the B.C. net about three minutes into the second half and put the ball about six inches wide right of the far post. From there, B.C. went on to win 1-nil on the strength of a goal by Cole Toupin with just over 10 minutes to play at around the 71 minute mark. Toupin, stationed to the right front of the Yukon goal, was able to head the ball into the far corner off a long free kick.

Yukon had a few more chances to score after that, but couldn’t connect for the tying goal. Another ball was sent across the B.C. goalmouth in the dying seconds, but a couple of Yukon’s would-be scorers couldn’t get to it.

“We played a very good B.C team and we should have actually, I think, at least had a tie,” said Yukon Tactical Director Sean Fleming.

“We came up with a tactical game plan which the kids executed very well. We played these three games in a short period of time and we really showed some great character to get through it.

“The second half, that one play where we made several passes down the left side and then we just missed our final tap (in), that’s a highlight reel football goal. We just played around them and played right through them and I’m just very proud of the way the kids are having confidence and belief in their football.”

Kishchuk wasn’t the only one with a chance to get Yukon on the board.

“And then the cross that Leo (Whittaker) had a chance ... eight yards out and he missed the goal,” lamented Fleming.

“And even at the very end. Like, we pushed, they’re hangin’ on like crazy. We put that ball across the six-yard box and unfortunately nobody took the initiative to get on the end of it because that could have been a tap-in.

“And that’s what I loved about it. B.C. were just hanging on at the end and we were just confident and moving forward and trying to get something out of it because if it tied, then we went to P.K.’s (penalty kicks) so right to the last kick of the game, our boys stayed to the task and really worked hard to try and get the results.

“But overall, from a performance perspective, I can’t be more happy,” he added.

The game turned chippy in the second half, with an obviously frustrated B.C. side drawing three yellow cards. A reckless charge by B.C’s Archie Tugwell on Sebastian Insley could have easily been a red card, but for some reason, didn’t result in a card at all. Insley lay on the turf for several minutes, but was able to continue in the match.

The loss overshadowed a brilliant defensive effort by the Yukon side. Time after time, B.C. attacked the Yukon goal, but couldn’t get the icebreaker.

Even in the last few minutes of play while leading 1-0, they had brilliant chance after brilliant chance to put the game away with a second goal, but Yukon keeper Callum Weir kept them at bay with some amazing point-blank saves. In the end, it wasn’t enough, as Yukon couldn’t find the equalizer they desperately needed.

“In the run of play, we didn’t get many chances,” recalled Fleming. “Callum had to make a couple of saves today – probably the busiest he’s had today of all the games but really to give up a goal on a set piece, that’s a disappointment to me, because we really emphasize that part to make sure that we’re organized on set pieces, attacking and defending.”

“But really I have to be very happy with the performance of the team against a very good team,” said Fleming.

“I hope the people of Yukon truly appreciate what these boys are doing cause they’re putting on great performances against some very good teams.”

Yukon played Manitoba in the 7th/8th place game today at 10 a.m. Yukon time.

“We have to play a very hungry Manitoba team, so hopefully we can finish off on a good note,” Fleming said before the game.

Manitoba fell 3-1 to Saskatchewan in the other consolation semi-final Thursday, and hadn’t won a game at this tourney. They finished in second place in Pool D with only one point from a draw with P.E.I., so if the Yukon side could play like it did against B.C., they stood a good chance of finishing the tournament on a winning note.

Yukon came out like gangbusters, dominating play and spending most of the half in the Manitoba end. They broke through with a goal around the 10-minute mark. Ben Kishchuk got his revenge after the B.C. game with the goal. Yukon followed it up with another goal around the 23-minute mark, as Kishchuk, the Manitoba keeper and the ball all ended up in a heap in the net. About four minutes later, Rio Crystal took a beautiful through ball and finished off with a strike past the Manitoba keeper. The score was 3-0 at the half.

Despite Manitoba’s efforts to break the goose egg in the second half, they were unable to score.

Team Yukon went on to win 3-0 and captured seventh place, their best finish ever at the Canada Games.

On the basketball court Thursday, the Yukon girls lost their Consolation Round game 93-29 to Newfoundland and Labrador.

The boys also put up a good fight, bowing out 103-49 to Manitoba in another Consolation Round game.

In the pool Thursday, in the Female 50 Metre Freestyle Race 1, Kale Massie finished second in 31.21, followed by Avery Kinsella in 31.31. Casey Delaurier came in fourth in 32.95, followed by Selene Brown in 35.08.

Overall, Massie finished 22nd, followed by Kinsella in 23rd. Casey Delaurier came in 47th overall, followed by Brown in 48th.

In the Male 50 Metre Freestyle Race 1, Liam Gishler captured first place in a time of 30.73. Hugh Stopps touched the wall third in 31.63, followed by William Sugden in 33.05.

In Race 2, Tuja Dreyer finished fourth in 27.26 and 21st overall, followed by Liam Gishler in 22nd.

Stopps came in 47th overall, followed by Sugden in 48th.

In the Female 800 Metre Freestyle, Sabine Keesey finished 13th overall in 9:52.25.

In the Male 1500 Metre Freestyle, Thomas Gishler came in ninth overall in 16:51.13. Liam Gishler finished 20th overall in 20:16.02.

In the 4 x 100 Metre Freestyle Relay Mix, Team Yukon finished 11th overall in 4:03.98.

In the Female 50 Metre Backstroke Race 1, Erin Delaurier came in second in 37.49 and 23rd overall.

In the Male 50 Metre Backstroke Race 2, Reese Jackson came in sixth in 32.5. At press time, Jackson’s overall placing wasn’t posted.

In the Female 200 Metre IM Race 1, Erin Delaurier touched the wall in third in 2:58.84.

In Race 2, Melody Qiu finished sixth in 2:51.35. Casey Delaurier was disqualified.

Qui finished 21st overall and Erin Delaurier came in 24th.

Lastly in Thursday swimming, in the Male 200 Metre IM Race 1, Oliver Cull touched the wall first in 2:34.97, followed by Corbin Jackson in 2:35.72.

In Race 3, Tuja Dreyer finished third in 2:22.72.

In Race 4, Thomas Gishler finished fifth in 2:20.52, which put him in Final B, in which he touched the wall fourth in 2:22.31. Gishler finished 12th overall.

Tuja Dreyer, who also enjoyed success at the Games, finished seventh in Final B and 15th overall.

Cull came in 44th overall, followed by Corbin Jackson in 45th.

Open Water events were the only swimming events held Friday. In the Male 3000 Metre Open Water, Thomas Gishler finished 13th in 36.29, capping off a strong Games for the Yukon swimmer.

Reese Jackson came in 18th in 40.25. Overall placings weren’t determined by press time.

In Female Beach Volleyball today, Team Yukon takes on Nunavut in the 11th/12th Place Game at 1:30 p.m. Yukon time.

In Male Beach Volleyball today, Team Yukon takes on Newfoundland and Labrador in the 11th/12th Place Game at 1:30 p.m. Yukon time.