The Nanaimo DBL Timbermen got to participate in their favourite activity this week – beating the Ladner Pioneers.
The city’s senior B lacrosse team outran and outscored its rivals in an 11-7 win Thursday at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.
“We played well pretty much in all facets,” said Mike Maughan, Timbermen coach. “Our offence really created a lot of chances, the defence played extremely well and punished them and made them earn all the chances they got.”
The Timbermen (5-5) are having a lot of success in the West Coast Senior Lacrosse Association lately with their transition game, and it was again a factor on Thursday.
“We feel when we’re pushing the pace we can get some breaks on the transition and guys know that and guys are willing to take some chances and it’s paying off for us,” Maughan said.
Jon Diplock said the Timbermen are a fast team, but noted that there’s more to transition than speed.
“We’ve got a lot of skilled players so most of us can read the play before it happens,” he said. “That’s a big thing because we trust the guys getting the ball so we break out early and then we’ve got a one-on-nothing.”
Even when the Pioneers attempted to slow down the Timbermen with physical play, the T-men matched their rivals in that regard. Maughan said he liked how his team played tough.
“It’s because you want the ball that badly, you want to check them that hard,” he said.
Maughan also praised his goalie Pat Mallough, who in turn credited his teammates’ defensive efforts.
“We really kept them to outside shooters,” said Mallough. “They didn’t get a lot of shots on me inside so I got to see everything.”
He finished with 34 saves as the T-men outshot the Pioneers 48-41.
Diplock, Nick Agius and Ryan Forslund each had two-goal games and other scorers were Rick Fields, Ben Stebbins, Gabe Sutherland and Shane Chalker.
GAME ON … The Timbermen have a full week off before they play the Royal City Capitals on Thursday (June 14) at the Nanaimo Ice Centre. The teams then play a rematch June 17 in New Westminster … Look for more on the DBL Timbermen next week in the News Bulletin … To read the Bulletin's most recent article on the senior B T-men, please click here.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com