The start to the 2012/13 indoor soccer season began on the weekend as the Yorkton United Football Club's U-16 squad headed to Regina for the QC Breakaway Tournament. Great team passing and speed down the flanks gave the YUFC U-16's an advantage as the young players have been practicing and scrimmaging with the YUFC mens team for most of October and November in preparation for the season with head coach Leon Derks putting the team through lengthy conditioning exercises to get the team into game shape.
That hard work showed in their run to the finals as the YUFC waltzed into the final with three lopsided victories. A 7-1 win over the REU Thunder was followed by a 6-nil drubbing of ACFC to give the boys a flying start to their campaign. Another 8-1 thrashing of Regina's QC United sent the U-16's to the final where they would face Regina UCT for the gold.
A much tighter contest was in store for the final as Jaden Porte opened the scoring for YUFC who found themselves a worthy opponent in the final as Regina UCT kept the score level in the quest for gold before a Matthew McKee goal from the penalty spot gave them the lead and Yorkton its first gold of the season in the opening tournament.
The win was part of a successful opening weekend for the YUFC program as the U-12 girls game home with three wins on the weekend and a silver medal in their division at the QC tournament.
Overall the YUFC U-16 squad showed flashes of a team that will be able to beat most Regina and Saskatoon teams in a quest for a provincial championship this winter with a team that balances physical and athletic ability with game sense and chemistry in passing which will make them a threat. A gold medal in their opening weekend will solidify their hopes and give them confidence going forward in the season.
