The Nanaimo Timbermen turned things around in a hurry.
After suffering a tough loss in the season opener, Nanaimo’s Western Lacrosse Association senior A team won its next game, defeating the New Westminster Salmonbellies 14-10 in overtime on the road Thursday.
“I don’t think they were as nervous as they were the first game. It was just getting that first-game jitters out of the way…” said Kaleb Toth, coach of the Timbermen. “It was good to see the guys get a little confidence and get happy about getting a victory.”
Nanaimo trailed most of the way, but kept things close and tied it up 10-10 on a goal from Jordan Gilles with two minutes left to force OT.
Toth said his guys had confidence at that point from the way they had played over 60 minutes, and said his team’s conditioning paid off, as guys had the legs to play beyond 60 minutes.
“We just kept pressuring them and kept taking it to them,” he said.
The coach said all facets of the game played well.
“Pete [Dubenski] made some great saves for us; he stopped the ball when we needed him to, and the offence scored when we needed them to and the defence played great transitioning the ball and stopping New West from getting to the inside,” Toth said.
Colton Clark led the offence with two goals and three assists and Jake Cullen had two goals and two helpers. Tyson Roe, Gilles and Randy Jones had two goals apiece and Jake Emms, Cody Bremner, Chase McIntyre and Brett Hawrys were Nanaimo’s other scorers. Dubenski finished with 60 saves.
Things get tougher for the T-men tomorrow (May 28), as they play their home opener against the defending-champion Victoria Shamrocks. The ’Rocks took it to the T-men in the season opener last week, but Toth expects his team to be competitive in the rematch.
“In this league, it’s such a short season that you’ve got to have a short memory and you can’t dwell on the past; you have to think to the future and you have to prepare yourself for the next game,” he said.
GAME ON … The Shamrocks and T-men meet Saturday (May 28) in a 7 p.m. game at Frank Crane Arena. Tickets will be available at the door.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com