The Nanaimo Acme Painting Timbermen are one victory away from a berth in the finals and a spot in the Presidents Cup.
The city’s senior B lacrosse team leads its semifinal series against the North Shore Indians two games to one after a 10-9 loss in double overtime Sunday at Frank Crane Arena.
The T-men weren't at the top of their game, trading transition chances with the Indians and running into penalty trouble in the second period that proved costly.
"It put us in a spot where we were left scrambling in a tight game. We've got to learn to be a little more disciplined," said Mike Maughan, the team's coach.
Devon Casey scored a late goal to force overtime and Julian Kolb tallied in the first OT period, but North Shore forced double OT and then scored the game winner a minute into sudden-death, transitioning down the floor to score right after T-men forward Steve Higgs hit the post.
“They got a couple bounces their way. It’s the way the game goes,” said Casey. “We’ve just got to come out with more intensity [next game] and we should be fine.”
Casey and Higgs had two goals each and Ryan Clark, Ryan Forslund, Josh Fagan, Jon Diplock and Kolb also scored.
Game 4 is Tuesday (July 29) on the mainland. The Tri-City Bandits, hosts of the Presidents Cup, await in the West Coast Senior Lacrosse Association finals. Since the Bandits get a host berth, the winner of the other semifinal automatically qualifies for nationals.
"The motivation's definitely there…" Maughan said. "But the other team's not going to let us have it easy so we know that we're going to have to earn it. We've got to work hard and do whatever it takes."
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I see that the WCSLA decision desk is already projecting a Nanaimo win in the semifinals… #Nanaimo #lacrosse pic.twitter.com/Uvj8R4dFFo
— Greg Sakaki (@BulletinSports) July 28, 2014