The Nanaimo Timbermen didn’t let the opposition Thunder up and down the floor, like they had in previous games.
The Coastal Windows Timbermen held off the Langley Thunder 10-9 on Wednesday night in the Fraser Valley.
Langley’s transition game had outrun Nanaimo the last two times the team met in Western Lacrosse Association play, so the Timbermen game-planned accordingly and did enough to win.
“It was a good battle. These guys work hard every single night,” said Art Webster, coach of the T-men. “We knew that we had to get this game and they stepped it up and met the challenge.”
The Thunder got ahead early in the second period, but Timbermen sniper Lewis Ratcliff caught fire and led his team back into it.
Nanaimo eventually built a 10-8 lead and hung on.
“There was a little bit of drama at the end, I have to admit,” Webster said.
Ratcliff finished with five goals and two assists and Mat MacLeod had a goal and two helpers. Joel Henry, Mike MacLeod, Jordon Sealock and Sean Nugent were the other scorers. Scott Ranger had four assists and Bubba Westwood had three. Matt King was the winning goalie as his team outshot the opposition 46-39.
The Timbermen now prepare to face the Coquitlam Adanacs on Saturday (July 23) on the Lower Mainland. Nanaimo has already won the season series, but two more points in the standings would be a boon in a tight WLA playoff race. Webster is hoping for another productive practice tonight (July 21) to prepare for the Adanacs.
"We'll identify what their strengths are and we'll try to take those away and get to their goalie," Webster said.
GAME ON … The Timbermen (6-7-2) play the Coquitlam Adanacs (4-10) on Saturday (July 23) on the Lower Mainland.