Goals.
That’s what the Penticton Tim Hortons Pinnacles focused on in their training session Thursday as they welcome Nanaimo’s Mid-Isla Mariners Saturday and Port Moody SC Sunday at King’s Park. Kick-off for both matches is 2 p.m. Coach Ezra Cremers said this weekend is big for the club as it looks to improve on its record of two wins and four losses in the Pacific Coast Soccer League.
The Pinnacles hope their work on finishing around the net pays dividends. They are the third lowest scoring team in the seven-team league with 10 and are led by James Fraser, who is listed with four. Three of them came in the opening 20 minutes of their 5-1 win over Port Moody SC on June 18. Teammate Enzo Paal is close behind with three, two of which came in that same win.
“Earlier in the season we were getting our chances, getting some unlucky breaks and the last game we played against Port Moody we were able to really finish,” said Cremers. “We’re a good team. We’re more than competitive. We feel that we can play against any team in the league. We have to be clinical in our chances in the attacking third.”
Their game against the Mariners on Saturday is the first meeting between the teams, but Cremers, who grew up in Nanaimo, is familiar with the coaches and players. That familiarity will help the Pinnacles prepare as Cremers knows what to expect.
“(I’m) looking forward to seeing the boys desire to win for the club,” he said.
Cremers said the win against Port Moody SC was important after they lost 3-2 to the UBC Thunderbirds in their rematch on June 17.
The Pinnacles games will be part of a weekend filled with soccer matches as the Pinnacles FC minor association has its PFC Cup, the championship for house teams in the under-11 to-18 age groups.
“It’s going to be a great day of football,” said Cremers, who is also the executive director and head coach of PFC.
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