The Nanaimo Timbermen had to grind one out, and they did, for their first win of the season.
The city's senior A lacrosse team (1-2-1) defeated the Coquitlam Adanacs 9-7 on Sunday night in Western Lacrosse Association action at Frank Crane Arena.
The game was a 7-7 tie for a long stretch of the third period before Jamie Sorensen scored the winning goal with three and a half minutes left. T-men goalie Zak Boychuk stretched his leg to make a key save and help preserve the victory.
"We just kept at it. Kept at our system, kept at the game plan," said Kaleb Toth, the team's coach. "Lacrosse is a momentum sport … when we lost it, we gained it right back."
Both teams were slow starters on Sunday as the first period ended 1-1. Nanaimo went on a run during the second period and led by as much as 6-2, but Coquitlam chipped away.
"We kept a level head. We had faith in our system and what our defence can do," Boychuk said. "The big thing's having faith in each other and we definitely did tonight and it showed."
On the winning goal, there was enough movement in the attacking zone to pull some Adanacs defenders away from their net, leaving a lane for Sorensen.
He finished with two goals and two assists and Macgregor Johnston also scored twice. Paul Brebber, Devon Casey, Braden Kmita, Conrad Chapman and Doug Langlois into an empty net rounded out the scoring and Cody Bremner had four assists.
Brett Hickey had a hat trick and four assists for the Adanacs and shots were 57-32 for the visitors.
Boychuk said the win will do "leaps and bounds" confidence-wise for the Timbermen and Sorensen called it a "big team win."
"It's going to give us a good edge moving on," Sorensen said. "We know what we're capable of and we know we can battle through and push through in those tough moments."
GAME ON … The T-men have just one game next weekend; they visit the Burnaby Lakers on Friday (May 30). Next home action is June 8 when the Maple Ridge Burrards come to Frank Crane Arena for a 7 p.m. game.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com