Pinnacles earn weekend split
James Fraser and the Penticton Tim Hortons Pinnacles made a strong statement.
Fraser produced a hat-trick in the first 25 minutes as the Pinnacles stomped Port Moody SC 5-1 on Sunday to earn a split of weekend road games in Pacific Coast Soccer League Premier Men’s Division play.
“We got a dominant win on the road against one of the top teams in the league,” said Pinnacles head coach Ezra Cremers. “It seals the belief that we can not only be competitive, but we can win games. We are a very dangerous offensive team and we showed that with seven goals in two games.”
The Pinnacles twice surrendered one-goal leads and dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker to Vancouver Thunderbirds Saturday at UBC’s Thunderbird Stadium.
Pinnacles 5 Port Moody 1: Enzo Paul added a pair of second-half goals as Penticton pulled away after the home team got within 3-1 with a goal late in the first half.
Cremers said Fraser linked up magnificently with veteran Ryan Glanville — who will likely be his strike partner at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops starting this fall.
One of Fraser’s goals came on a penalty kick, while attacking midfielder Wyatt Seddon-Johnstone played a key role in the three-goal flurry.
“Some of the breaks around the net finally went our way,” said Cremers, who saw his team improve to 2-4-0 and jump two spots into fifth place in the seven-team league. “We knew we had to be more clinical finishing off all the chances we create.”
THUNDERBIRDS 3 PINNACLES 2
An entertaining first half saw the teams combined for four goals and a catalogue of other quality chances.
Fraser got the party started as he was taken down in the 18-yard box and converted the ensuing penalty kick.
The T-Birds tied it as goalkeeper Travis Froehlich — deputising for Brady van Ryswyk — made the first save but clipped a forward who was trying to score on the rebound. The T-Birds converted on the penalty kick to make it 1-1.
Penticton reclaimed the lead on 35 minutes. Speedster Isaac Koch — not expected to play due to injury — superbly beat a defender 1-on-1 and teed up Randy Hubber to make it 2-1.
The home team tied it five minutes later as Froehlich — anticipating a cross into the box — could only parry a perfectly placed high shot into the top corner.
“It was a cracker of a goal . . . you’ve got to give their guy credit,” said Cremers.
The Thunderbirds got the winner on a penalty kick with 10 minutes left after Pinnacles defender Mike Bennett crunched an attacking player in the box.
“I’m not going to lie, we were gutted after that game,” said Cremers.
But the Pinnacles bounced back with their biggest win of the season 24 hours later.
It sets up a big weekend for the Pinnacles with home games against first-place MidIsle Mariners (5-1-1) on Saturday and the rematch with Port Moody (3-3-1) on Sunday. Both are 1 p.m. kick-offs at SoccerX.com Field (King’s Park 3).
Penticton is just two points behind the T-Birds and four behind Port Moody with a game in hand on both. The top four teams make the playoffs.
“If we can get a result or two we’re right there,” said Cremers. “We’ve got some work to do but we’re not scared of anyone in this league. We’ve got three straight home games and a chance to really make our move in the standings.”
FREE KICKS: Speedy forward Cole Kingzett (foot) did not play on the road trip but is expected to be fit for the weekend games . . . . Glanville returned to the lineup ahead of schedule after suffering a pulled hamstring . . . . Isaac Koch was too sore to play in Sunday’s game, but Cremers said he will likely play on an intermittent basis for the rest of the season . . . . Cremers sang the praises of his young players, notably left midfielder Jordell Afonso, who is ticketed for TRU along with Fraser this fall. “Jordell just had a fantastic weekend,” Cremers said.