The Nanaimo Timbermen didn’t handle adversity very well last weekend, but they have a couple more chances this week to make good.
The Coastal Windows Timbermen (5-5-1) play the Burnaby Lakers on Friday (July 13) on the road, then host the Maple Ridge Burrards on Saturday.
The T-men had won three in a row before last weekend, but then had some scoring troubles when they ran into the Western Lacrosse Association’s first-placed Langley Thunder.
“We got away from our game plan and we panicked and I hadn’t seen that all year,” said Art Webster, coach of the senior A Timbermen. “I think it was out of frustration that the ball wasn’t falling in the net for our guys.”
If a shot was stopped, or struck a post, then the T-men would feel sorry for themselves rather than sprint back to the bench.
“We can’t be giving [opponents] transition goals while we’re not putting the ball in the net,” Webster said. “I said, to really simplify things, just put the ball in the net.”
The coach said his players are fit and up to the task of playing in back-to-back games.
“I don’t think it’s a physical thing, it’s a mental thing,” Webster said.
When it comes to the mental side of the game, the coach expects his players will be in the right frame of mind to win a lacrosse game.
“They’re not happy, so they’re going to rebound and we’ll go hard,” said Webster. “Burnaby’s not going to be easy but we’ve got the team to beat them and we’ve just got to put it on the floor.”
GAME ON … The Timbermen and the Lakers play at 7 p.m. Friday (July 13) on the road. The game will be available as a pay-per-view webcast at www.theboxrocks.com … The T-men host the Maple Ridge Burrards on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Frank Crane Arena. Tickets will be available at the door; cost is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students and $5 for children.
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