The Timbermen will get to play for a trophy at the Presidents Cup.
The Nanaimo Timbermen defeated the Oakville Titans 10-3 in the semifinals Saturday at the national senior B lacrosse championships at Frank Crane Arena.
The Re/Max T-men will take on the two-time defending champions, the St. Albert Miners, who beat the Caughnawaga Indians in the other semifinal.
Nanaimo was a fired-up team Saturday, jumping to a 4-1 first-period lead and never looking back.
“We finally executed 60 minutes and when we got up, we buried a team,” said Kyle Couling, Timbermen coach. “They got a couple opportunities when they may have got momentum and we just stepped up and shut the door.”
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Here are more photos, plus a game story and stats from today's Presidents Cup semifinal. Nanaimo 10, Oakville 3. Timbermen advance to Sunday's championship game… https://t.co/QndTgG5YtG #Nanaimo pic.twitter.com/7h7xA0pvQB
— Greg Sakaki (@BulletinSports) September 2, 2018
The coach said his team was disciplined, good on loose balls and smart with clock management.
“We’ve just been on the upswing and it’s every game a little bit better, every game a little smarter,” he said.
Nick Patterson earned the win in goal after getting hurt but getting back in there. He said everybody on the Timbermen is working hard.
“Everybody’s doing their job, we’re not trying to do too much,” he said. “We’re coming together and peaking at the right time now. Everyone believes that we can do this.”
The semis drew the biggest crowd of the tournament yet, and Patterson predicts the final will be “crazy in here.”
“The fans have been amazing during the whole tournament,” he said. “Every game, we’ve got a great crowd, super loud and we really feed off the energy.”
Couling said the Timbermen feel like the town is behind them right now, and that gives them an advantage over other teams.
“It means more to us, I think, and hopefully that’s going to be a difference in our desire,” the coach said. “Everybody’s behind us … and that support, it just lifts you up a little bit and gives you that extra little boost to push you over the top.”
Jeff Shattler led Nanaimo’s attack with a hat trick and four assists and Jon Diplock scored four goals. Corey Shires had a goal and three assists and Cory Conway had a goal and two helpers. Sam Postma was Nanaimo’s other scorer.
For Oakville, Cree Blakely scored twice and Nolan Apers had a goal and two assists.
GAME ON … The Timbermen play the Miners in the Presidents Cup final on Sunday, Sept. 2, at 6 p.m. at Frank Crane Arena.
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Nanaimo Timbermen beat Oakville Titans 10-3 in Presidents Cup semifinals. T-men will play for a national championship Sunday at 6 p.m. at Frank Crane Arena… #lacrosse pic.twitter.com/9vNlkqAH13
— Greg Sakaki (@BulletinSports) September 2, 2018
sports@nanaimobulletin.com
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