The Penticton Pinnacles soccer team was held off the scoreboard in their home-opener on Saturday, losing 2-0 to the Mid-Isle Mariners.
Despite the loss, assistant coach Manuel Borba said the young Pinnacles squad held their own in the match.
“We have been working hard the last five years with the Penticton Soccer Club and Excelsior Academy bringing in the Dutch system with the pro club we have partnered with and this crop of U18 kids are the first to have come up with the full benefits of that system,” said Borba. “We are starting to see all that hard work Ezra Cremers put in and have technically good players who are not overwhelmed playing in this calibre of league.”
The Pinnacles were down 1-0 at the half after what Borba described as a “dubious penalty call.”
“There was contact in the box that the referee called and their player kept running the ball and took a shot at our keeper. The referee then decided to give him another shot. Normally, the player wouldn’t get two. We were disappointed but that is the way the game goes,” said Borba.
The Mariners second goal came off a intercepted pass that led to a breakaway.
“The boys fought very hard and we are proud of them. The mistakes we made in this game we can fix before our next game,” said Borba.
The Pinnacles will have two tough games against what Borba said are the two best teams in the Pacific Coast Soccer League. The first is against Vancouver United FC, then they will face the Vancouver Thunderbirds which rosters UBC alumni. United beat them last weekend 3-2.
“UBC has one of the top programs in the country. This will be good experience for our team,” said Borba.
Under the Dutch system, the Pinnacles have seen successes come out of both the male and female players including Pinns goalie Brady van Ryswyk who has committed to attend school and play with the Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack. Borba said PFC Excelsior Academy and Pinns player David Boehmer has committed to play with Trinity Western University Spartans. A handful of other Pinnacles are still deciding if they will be committing to college or universities for next season.