Nanaimo’s senior A lacrosse squad looked rock solid in victory.
The Coastal Windows Timbermen defeated the Coquitlam Adanacs 9-4 on Sunday at Frank Crane Arena.
“We played hard all night and we’re going to have to do that to make playoffs in this league,” said Scott Ranger, team captain.
Nanaimo built a 7-2 lead by the mid-point of the second period and tried to force the pace the rest of the way. An outstanding game by goalie Matt King, who made 47 saves, kept the Adanacs from making it close even when the T-men paraded to the penalty box in the third period.
“I thought our short man did a good job,” said Art Webster, Timbermen coach. “They cut and filled when they needed to.”
The Adanacs brought over a talented lineup, but their stars Dane Dobbie and Cory Conway combined for only one goal.
“We wanted to make sure that they weren’t getting inside,” Webster said. “We were allowing them to shoot the ball from outside, let Kinger see the ball [and] step up high on the crease and take away those angles.”
Bubba Westwood said it was the team's best defensive performance this season.
"We were trying to be as aggressive as we can and box it out," he said. "Kinger's going to make the first save almost every time, so we block it off and hopefully don't let them get rebounds."
Jon Diplock, Adanacs forward, said the Timbermen got luckier bounces in a pretty even game, but said the opposition did play good defence.
"It was more us than them," said Diplock. "We didn't follow our game plan."
Ranger led Nanaimo’s offence with four goals and two assists, Lewis Ratcliff added two goals and two assists and Joel Henry, Bubba Westwood and Sean Nugent also scored.
GAME ON … The Timbermen (2-2-1) play the New Westminster Salmonbellies (3-1-1) on Thursday on the mainland, then host the Burnaby Lakers (2-5) on Sunday at 7 p.m. at Frank Crane Arena.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com