Facing the fifth-place Shuswap in the Thompson Okanagan Youth Soccer League playoffs, the Pinnacles FC under-13 boys expect to win.
Coach Michael Barron said they defeated the Shuswap in both of their meetings this season.
“We really should be advancing from that first game,” said Barron, adding there are no guarantees, though. “We’re definitely the better team.”
Should Pinnacles FC win, Barron expects they would play Kamloops, the top team in the league.
Barron wants to see his players continue performing as they have all season. In the games they have lost, the defeats have only been by one or two goals.
“You want to see them play well regardless of the results,” said Barron, who is in his first season coaching at the district level.
All season the group has played a possessive game, choosing not just to kick and run. Defensively, the players Barron counts on starts in goal with Matthew Wilson of Oliver.
“He is a solid player,” said Barron.
In front of Wilson are Jacob Weaver and Jerry Xiang playing the centre back positions. Offensively, the Pinnacles rely on Thor Morhart, Matthew Byrne and Nash Moog. They also receive solid contributions from Midway’s Samuel Foy.
“He’s a very talented player,” added Barron. “Has a good touch.”
Barron loves the group he has and praised his dedicated players who come from Oliver.
“These playoffs, we could definitely pull an upset and beat Kamloops,” he said. “We have to get past the first game. I’m hoping the other teams have a good weekend in Kamloops as well.
Other matches feature the under-13 girls playing Vernon at McArthur Island Park, the under-14 girls play Kelowna as do the under-15; the under-16 girls face Vernon while the under-14 boys play Vernon in the B Cup. In the A Cup, the under-15 boys play Kamloops.