The Nanaimo Timbermen get to play for a league title.
The senior A T-men defeated the Coquitlam Adanacs by a 9-7 score on Friday, Aug. 12, at Frank Crane Arena, to sweep their Western Lacrosse Association semifinal series four games to none.
Game 4, like the rest of the series, was closely contested and was tied in the third period until Jerome (Hiana) Thompson scored a tie-breaking goal.
“It just all came together at the right time,” he said.
A cutting Taggart Clark added an insurance goal with a minute and a half left and the T-men held strong.
“I’m really proud of the boys tonight for sticking together…” said Tewanee Joseph, Timbermen coach. “The main thing in a tight game is to really get out there and support each other and play our brand of lacrosse, play Timbermen lacrosse and that’s what we did out there.”
Devlin Shanahan, T-men goalie, said his team kept calm, kept a positive mindset and knew that with hard work, good things would happen.
“We were maybe a little shaky and nervous, focusing on the sweep here,” he said. “They gave us a hard battle but we gutted through it and I’m proud of everyone.”
Colton Lidstone was chosen first star after scoring two goals and adding two assists, Clark had a pair of goals, and Teioshontathe McComber and Jon Phillips each contributed a goal and two assists. Nick Finlay and Adam Wiedemann were other scorers.
Shanahan made 43 saves as shots ended up 62-50 in favour of the home team.
It was the first playoff series win for the T-men since the franchise entered the league in 2005 and the largest lacrosse crowd of the summer saw the historic victory.
“I love this game,” Thompson said. “Obviously winning’s fun, but when you come to a program where you know that winning isn’t too normal, to bring this to the community and see all the joy in the fans, that’s what it’s all about.”
Nanaimo will face the winner of the other semifinal series between the Langley Thunder and the Victoria Shamrocks, currently tied two games apiece. If the Thunder win the series, the WLA finals will start in Langley; if the Shamrocks move on, the finals will start in Nanaimo.
Advancing to the finals is “a big step, but it’s just one step, that’s all it is,” said Shanahan, and Joseph also pointed out that it’s one step in a journey. The T-men will now turn their attention to getting ready for what’s next.
“When you set a high goal for yourself to get out there and play the best game that you can, play the Creator’s game the best way, then I think that you’re always prepared for any situation,” the coach said.
READ ALSO: Nanaimo Timbermen one win away from league finals
READ ALSO: Nanaimo Timbermen lacrosse team wins on home floor to extend series lead
READ ALSO: Nanaimo Timbermen start playoffs with a win
editor@nanaimobulletin.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter