Against one of the top teams in the Pacific Coast Soccer League, Khalsa Sporting Club, the Tim Hortons Pinnacles dropped to one win and two losses.
Saturday’s match at Kings Park resulted in the Pinnacles losing in a 5-0 decision to a squad of mostly university players, including some from UBC and SFU. The Pinnacles also lost Jordell and Austin Afonso, who received red cards with 20 minutes remaining. Pinnacles goalkeeper Brady Van Ryswyk said it was a big adjustment taking on top-end players.
“We only have a couple of university players right?” said Van Ryswyk, who plays for the TRU WolfPack with Jordell Afonso and James Fraser, who did not play due to an injury. “It was good for the young guys to see how it is at the top level. I thought first half we played pretty well. My fault on the first one for slipping. Second half (giving up four goals) we just lost our heads a bit. Got two reds and then it was downhill from there.”
Van Ryswyk said they felt the impact of not having Fraser in the lineup, but adds they needed other players to step up. The Pinnacles goalkeeper saw positives. He felt they held their own, but he saw something else.
“When it got aggressive and it got chippy we stepped up and we didn’t back down,” said Van Ryswyk, who got on his teammates a few times during the match to encourage them. “We‘ve been kind of that in the past. Kind of lackadaisical. Our passing wasn’t up to where it is, but I thought we played the ball well when we did have it.”
The Pinnacles return to action on June 16 when they host the Victoria Highlanders at Kings Park. Kick off is 4 p.m.