An intense battle between the Penticton Tim Hortons Pinnacles and Victoria Highlanders FC ended in a 1-1 draw Saturday at King’s Park.
“I thought we did really well. I asked them to raise the intensity a little bit from the last time we played Victoria,” said Pinnacles player/coach Wyatt Seddon-Johnstone. “In the first 10 minutes I thought they did just that.”
Each team generated a few chances in the opening half, but the majority of play was spent at mid field in several ball battles. There was plenty of aggressive tackles, fouls taken and incidental contact while trying to fight for body position.
“As a player, you always want to play in that competitive atmosphere,” said Seddon-Johnstone. “That ideally brings out the best in everyone.”
The Pacific Coast Soccer League under-21 teams couldn’t net a winner after Highlanders FC’s Hamish Walde scored to tie the game in the second half. Randy Hubber scored the lone Pinnacles goal which went in off a Highlanders player after he lobbed the ball to the net early in the second half.
Near the end of the game, Seddon-Johnstone found himself sandwiched between two Highlanders for position in front of the visitors box.
“They were getting a little grabby. It was really funny,” said Seddon-Johnstone. “One guy just grabbed me and pulled me back and then ran away and was smiling at me.”
As for the overall performances between the squads, Seddon-Johnstone said his team was the better.
“I think if we were a little bit more fortunate, a little more ruthless in front of the net, I think we would have come away with a win,” said Seddon-Johnstone.
Seddon-Johnstone said the group felt a little dejected due to their inability to finish chances.
“It’s tough when you feel like you are the better team, but the score line doesn’t state that,” said Seddon-Johntone adding that he told the players to remember that feeling and bring the same effort every game. “The thing about this team is we always bounce back. Always just hit the restart button.”
The Pinnacles, who are first in the Reserve Division, next host West Vancouver FC at King’s Park on June 21.
Lady Pinns win fourth straight
The Penticton Hyundai Pinnacles held off West Vancouver FC’s aggressive early attack to win 2-0 at King’s Park Sunday afternoon.
Key to the victory was the play of goalkeeper Emily Edmundson, who made two great saves on breakaways. Melanie Shannon opened the scoring with her seventh of the season. LaDawn Latawiec scored the other goal in the second half, which was controlled by the Pinnacles.
In the win, the Pinnacles received strong performances by Shayla Hearne, Brittany Loney, Mila Miller and Kaitlyn Munro.
Coach Ray Hintz said it’s a big win for his squad against a team that had lost just once prior their meeting. The Pinnacles now have six wins and two losses with three games remaining in the regular season.
The only thing Hintz isn’t happy about is the three week break for the Pinnacles as they don’t play until July 5 because North Shore and Chilliwack dropped out of the league.
“We’re starting to play well, move the ball around nice,” said Hintz, adding that they will have to go back into training camp mode to keep players ready.
