After knocking off unbeaten regular season champions Fraser Valley Action in the semifinal, the Penticton Structurlam Pinnacles looked poised to claim their second straight playoff title and third in last four years.
On the strength of possession and quality scoring chances, they easily could have.
But Kym Van Duynhoven scored with 15 minutes to go and TSS Academy from Vancouver shaded the Pinnacles 2-1 in the Pacific Coast Soccer League Reserve Women‘s Challenge Cup championship game Sunday in Coquitlam.
“It was just a great, gutsy effort by everyone the whole weekend,” said Pinnacles head coach Ray Hintz. “We‘re disappointed with the final result, but we left everything we had on the field.”
The Pinnacles were left to rue a series of missed chances around the net in the first half.
“Credit to TSS for playing a solid game, but we just didn‘t finish,” said Hintz. “We probably should have been ahead by two or three after the first half.”
They weren‘t though. Laura Tasaka scored on a fortuitous bounce off Penticton defender Erin Finlay 10 minutes into the game to give TSS the lead. Jana Yates – among several key Penticton players soldiering on despite injury – tied the game on a header in the 20th minute.
It stayed that way until Van Duynhoven scored a nifty goal off a set piece from a corner kick in the 75th minute.
Hintz then rolled the dice by pushing more players forward, but the Pinnacles couldn‘t conjure up a last-ditch equalizer.
The Pinnacles (10-5-1 in the regular season) stunned 13-0-3 Fraser Valley in the semifinal on Saturday. Penticton also upset the Action in last year‘s playoff final.
Pinnacles scoring leader Anika Nystrom, hobbled by a hamstring injury, shot Penticton into the lead after 21 minutes.
Fraser Valley levelled the score just before halftime, setting the stage for a superb individual effort by Mary Kampman for the winner with 15 minutes to go.
Kampman weaved down the right side, cut to the middle and unleashed a perfect left-foot blast that eluded the goalkeeper and flew into the top corner.
“Beating the No. 1 team, handing them their first loss, that was a real highlight for us,” said Hintz, noting the Action beat the Pinnacles twice by one goal in the regular season.
In the other semifinal, TSS edged third-place Chilliwack 3-2.
Hintz said the Pinnacles defensive line was strong again, led by Erin Finlay, Mila Miller, Amy Buzikievich and Madie Greig.
“Mila was probably our MVP for the whole season,” said Hintz.
Kim Conway and Haley Burns teamed up with Kampman to solidify the midfield, while the forwards created scoring chances all weekend, Hintz said.
Hintz said there is a chance the Pinnacles could move up to the senior women‘s division next season.
“The (PCSL) would like us to,” said Hintz. “The soccer club, SOYSA and everyone involved will assess things in the next few months. We‘ve got some very, very good talent coming up. That will be a big factor in the decision.”
Hintz said practically everyone from this year‘s team has indicated they‘d like to play again next season.
“With jobs, school and other commitments, it‘s hard to say who will be back for certain at this point,” said Hintz.
Hintz, who has some job-related decisions to make himself in the coming weeks, isn‘t sure if he‘ll be back to continue his run of success.
“I‘ve been doing it for a while now, so maybe the girls need a new voice,” said Hintz.
Hintz, who credited manager Pat Conway with doing much of the legwork, said he‘s greatly enjoyed being part of the team over the past four years.
“We‘ve had a nice run,” said Hintz. “It was an entirely local team in the playoffs with the exception of two players. For a small (youth) association, that‘s pretty good.”
