The Nanaimo DBL Timbermen rose to the challenge of back-to-back games with back-to-back solid efforts.
The city's senior B lacrosse team defeated the Langley Warriors 17-10 on Sunday at the Nanaimo Ice Centre, then lost 9-5 to the Tri-City Bandits on Monday on the Lower Mainland.
The Bandits are defending champions of the West Coast Senior Lacrosse Association, having beaten the T-men in the final last summer.
"If we have more of our guys, we can handle that team," said Roger Dubyna, coach of the DBL men.
Nanaimo had to play with only 10 runners against the Bandits.
"That's kind of tricky," Dubyna said. "But I thought the guys really played well, especially having played the day before."
Goaltender Danny Walters made 50 saves in what was his best game of the season, said the coach.
B.J. Potter scored two goals, Jordan Jarvis, Ryan Hanna and Isaac Haack had the others and Myles Jeffers had three assists.
The day before, Nanaimo got out to a significant first-period lead against Langley.
"Because it was so easy, we kind of mentally let down a touch in the second and then that made the game interesting," Dubyna said. "In the third we kind of settled in and smartened up."
Jarvis had five goals and four assists, Potter had four goals and three assists and Shane Chalker also had a hat trick. Aaron Vanderhorst scored twice and dished three assists, Mike Maughan had two and two and Jeffers scored and assisted on five others. Jaron Dubyna supplied three assists. Walters made 30 saves, sharing the goaltending win with Mike Berti.
GAME ON … The DBL Timbermen play their next game Sunday (June 5) at Parksville's Oceanside Place against the first-placed Valley Rebels. That contest is a 5 p.m. faceoff.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com