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Pinns hit bumpy road

Lady Pinnacles earn weekend split while men come back without points in Pacific Coast Soccer League play
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PENTICTON PINNACLES Alana Parker (right) cuts hard around Fraser Valley defender Miki Knowler on Saturday. The Pinnacles won 3-2.

It was a tough weekend for both Penticton Pinnacles under-21 teams in the Pacific Coast Soccer League.

Hosting at King’s Park, the Hyundai Pinnacles women’s team looked sluggish to coach Ray Hintz, who said, “I just thought we were running in mud.”

Despite not having their usual speed, the Pinnacles earned a 3-2 win in Reserve Division play against the Fraser Valley Action. LaDawn Latawiec scored the winner on a well-timed header.

“When we made it 2-1, it gave us life before half,” said Hintz. “I thought our last goal, a cross from Mel Shannon to LaDawn … was a nice header.”

Hintz said his group showed character in the comeback win. Another win just wasn’t in the cards Sunday against the Peninsula Co-op Highlanders from Victoria, as the Pinnacles bowed 1-0 to the visitors. The Pinnacles had good moments, but the Highlanders had better chances.

“The game before took a lot out of us,” said Hintz. “I think we put a lot of effort into the weekend.”

Hintz said adjustments need to be made when they face Kelowna United at UBC-O Nonis Field this Sunday.

“Even though we are creating chances, we are not creating enough,” said Hintz, adding that the players struggled with passing and touch.

The Pinnacles also dealt with injuries, but Hintz refused to use that as an excuse. They were without Gabby Levesque in the second game after she played a half on Saturday. Player/coach Jana Yates played 20 minutes of the second game and Latawiec has a knee injury, but battled through the second game.

“Kacia Erzinger and Jesse Olfert played really well for us,” he said.

Pinns men winless on road

The Penticton Tim Hortons Pinnacles men’s team were dumped 5-1 by Ladysmith’s Mid Isle Highlanders on Saturday, then were handed another loss, 3-0, by the Victoria Highlanders Sunday.

“There was no real commitment, no real desire to compete,” said Pinnacles coach Wyatt Seddon-Johnstone, adding that they didn’t get their lone goal against the Highlanders until the dying minutes. “There was no urgency.”

Seddon-Johnstone said it was a little bit frustrating to watch, especially because of the bad mistakes. The Pinnacles improved their play against Victoria.

“All I asked of the players was to bring a level of compete and urgency and they responded,” he said. “It was a lot better.”

The Highlanders scored on two set plays and one on a fast break. Seddon-Johnstone said the defence held up well in open play and there were other things he was happy with.

“Sunday’s effort is a good starting point, something to build off,” he added.

Now the Pinnacles shift their focus to having two good practices this week before heading to UBC-O Nonis Field to face Kelowna. In facing their Okanagan rival, Seddon-Johnstone said they have a point to prove: that they are the best in the valley.

“It should be fun,” he said.