If you ask Challenge Trophy-winning coach Kostas Vailas, his team won its first-ever national championship by simply taking that proverbial one-match-at-a-time approach. Sounds kind of cliché, but in the case of Winnipeg's Hellas SC at the 2009 BMO National Championships in Saskatoon, SK, it probably was the difference.

"The good thing for us was that first game against the Calgary Callies FC," said head coach Vailas. "It was a big thing for us. They were not expecting us to be that good. We came out very strong. After beating the Callies, my guys believed that we could do it."

After finishing eighth at the 2008 BMO National Championships in St. John's, NL, Hellas SC won the 2009 league and provincial titles. It qualified for the 2009 competition, but in a group with two-time defending champion Callies FC, host Huskie Alumni, and big-province winners Real Toronto and West Van FC.

Callies FC was Winnipeg's first opponent on the opening day of the tournament. The Callies scored first, but Hellas SC surprised the defending champion by scoring twice in the second half, including Ulrick Disna's winner in the 89th minute.

"We realized as a team that nothing was impossible," said Vailas. "We took one game at a time and we did amazing."

Following up on the 2:1 win, Hellas SC defeated West Van FC before getting a day's rest. Because it had defeated Callies FC in the opening match, Hellas SC held the head-to-head tie-breaker advantage in case Calgary and Winnipeg finished tied on points. So when Calgary finished its group action with nine points on Saturday, Hellas SC knew it had two chances to equal nine points and finish first in the group.

Sure enough, Hellas SC lost 0:3 to host Huskie Alumni on Saturday, but then rebounded to clinch first place with a 2:0 win over Real Toronto on Sunday.

"It was a good thing that (the loss) happened at the right time," said Vaillas. "It gave us time to think and get ready for the next two games."

In the final, Hellas SC scored the lone goal in the second half. It was 23-year old midfielder and substitute Chris Musto who scored his second goal of the tournament.

Hellas SC is the sixth team from Manitoba to win the national championship, the first since Sons of Italy won it all in 2002. Manitoba's six teams have won 11 championships. All 20 Hellas SC players are first-time Challenge Trophy champions.

BMO Financial Group is proud to support soccer at all levels across Canada, from grassroots to Canada’s national teams. Starting with sponsorship of more than 400 Canadian youth teams to the title support of elite youth players at the BMO National Championships, through to the professional-team support (Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC) and sponsorship of the Canadian men’s and women’s national soccer teams, BMO Financial Group is serious about Canadian soccer. For more information on BMO’s support of soccer in Canada, visit bmosoccer.com.