For the Acme Timbermen to advance, they'll have to unseat the five-time defending champs.
The Nanaimo Timbermen senior B lacrosse team is matched up against the Tri-City Bandits in the West Coast Senior Lacrosse Association semifinals starting Thursday (July 25).
The T-men are seeded higher than the Bandits this year and get home-floor advantage in the best-out-of-five series, but Tri-City won both games between the two teams during the regular season.
"The guys are looking forward to it because it kind of gives us a bit of a chance at redemption," said Mike Maughan, coach of the Acme Painting Timbermen. "We're excited to get the opportunity to beat them when it matters."
The coach said the Bandits are strong at all areas of the floor. Their goalie Chad Miller led the league in save percentage.
"In the couple of games we've played, we've fallen behind because we haven't been able to solve him early on in the game," Maughan said. "If we can get a couple on him early then that will bode well."
He said Tri-City plays efficient lacrosse and doesn't make many mistakes, so he stressed that the Timbermen can't afford to lose the battle on turnovers and penalties. If they can keep games close in those areas, he said, then Nanaimo's talent can win out.
To take advantage of home floor, Nanaimo will have to try to come up with a win right away, in Game 1.
"It's going to be a good, intense game and it's probably going to be a tight game. I don't see it being a blowout either way," Maughan said. "It's definitely going to be some good lacrosse to watch. Hopefully we can put on a show and come out on the good side."
GAME ON … Game 1 starts at 7 p.m. Thursday at Frank Crane Arena. Game 2 will be Saturday in Burnaby and Game 3 is set for Sunday at 6 p.m. at Frank Crane. Game 5, if necessary, will be Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Frank.
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