The senior B Nanaimo Timbermen have had a lot to play for lately. Now, they’ll play for their playoff lives.
The city’s West Coast Senior Lacrosse Association team is down two games to none to start its best-of-five final against the Langley Warriors.
After falling 7-4 in Game 1 Saturday on the mainland, the T-men dropped a 6-3 decision in Game 2 on Sunday evening at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.
“The first period wasn’t our best period and it kind of put us chasing the game the whole game…” said Mike Maughan, the team’s coach. “We could never get it to even or ahead. You’re always chasing it so you’re always kind of forcing things a little bit more than you normally would.”
The T-men didn’t score until the third period Sunday, but got two in the first half of the frame to close the gap to 3-2.
“We just needed some bounces to go our way,” said Jon Diplock, team captain. “We had a lot of shots, we turned it on in the third and it just wasn’t going our way.”
He said with a couple of guys getting hurt and a short bench, his team was tired, but doesn’t want to make excuses.
Diplock said the Warriors’ defensive unit is pretty solid, but said the Timbermen can be better at getting open, working off-ball and trying to swing the ball cross-crease.
Maughan said guys need to get on top of the crease and bear down and bury the chances they get.
“We’re confident with all the guys that are on the floor and their abilities and their talents, so it’s just a matter of maybe looking for better matchups and ways that we can break down their defence,” the coach said.
Nanaimo’s goals Sunday were scored by Brendon Anger, Diplock and Corey Shires. The day before, call-up Darrin Wilson scored a pair, Travis Mickelson had a goal and two assists and Brad Mazzocato also tallied.
GAME ON … Game 3 will be Thursday (Aug. 11) at the Langley Events Centre. Look for a preview in the next issue of the News Bulletin … Game 4, if necessary, will be Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com