Pinnacles net first victory of season

The Penticton Tim Hortons Pinnacles didn’t mind waiting a few minutes longer to get their first win.

Niko Kahl scored twice as the Pinnacles beat Mid-Isle Mariners 41 in Pacific Coast Soccer League Premier Men’s Division play Saturday night at King’s Park.

The start of the game was delayed about 30 minutes as the Mariners team bus had to be re-routed due to a serious car crash near Hope.

James Fraser and Charles Park also scored for the Pinnacles, who evened their record at 1-1. Mid-Isle was playing its first game of the season before taking on Kamloops Wolfpack on Sunday.

“It was nice to get a win,” said Pinnacles interim coach Manuel Borba. “I thought we played really well and deserved it. It was obviously a tough situation for (Mid-Isle) and we were able to take advantage.”

Kahl, a striker from Summerland who plays for Borba’s Pinnacles FC under-18 team, gave the Pinnacles the lead.

Mid-Isle tied the game but Fraser put Penticton back ahead for good on a brilliant goal five minutes later.

Kahl and Park added second-half goals as the Pinnacles cruised to the win.

Borba said newly acquired Andre Perez from Nelson had a “terrific” game playing in the midfield along with stalwarts Fraser and Bjorn Borren.

“We also got a huge game from Jordell Afonso at centre-back. He was a rock back there,” said Borba.

James Hill, only 16, played the entire game at right back and several other U18 players contributed once again.

Borba said the Pinnacles are slowing getting some more players back from university. Josh Araujo will be back to join the team in training this week.

“It’s a good thing not to have to use so many of the U18 guys,” said Borba. “They need time to develop but they’ve responded well when we’ve thrown them into the fire.”

The Pinnacles are off until Saturday, June 9 when they host Khalsa Sporting Club in a 4 p.m. kickoff at King’s.