The Nanaimo Acme Timbermen, still undefeated, will play their toughest game so far this season.
The city's senior B lacrosse team (3-0) travels to the mainland Thursday (May 16) to face the Ladner Pioneers (1-0). Like the T-men, the Pioneers are returning most of their core group from 2012.
"We're definitely going to see a solid team in Ladner again this year," said Mike Maughan, T-men coach.
The Acme Painting Timbermen are coming off back-to-back convincing wins last weekend, when they beat the North Shore Indians 13-7 on Friday in West Vancouver and then doubled up the Royal City Capitals 12-6 on Saturday at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.
The games were similar in some ways, said Maughan. Friday's win had its ups and downs before the T-men outscored the Indians 7-3 in the final frame.
"We had some discipline issues, but we were able to sort it out and put together a real strong third period," he said.
The next night, Nanaimo built a big lead but then got away from the game plan.
"We again kind of lost our heads a little bit and let them back in the game before we shored it up again at the end," he said.
That game was notable for an incident in the last minute of the third period when goalie Danny Walters racked up 40 minutes in penalties on one play.
"Danny got high-sticked in his crease. He got slashed in the head and the [opponent] was getting a major penalty but Danny wasn't too pleased with it. He kind of retaliated," said Maughan.
Kyle Noble and Aaron Vanderhorst had two goals and two assists apiece to lead the Timbermen in that game and Cody Keating, Ryan Forslund and Rick Fields also scored two each. Steve Higgs had a goal and four assists and Graeme Ross also tallied.
The day before, Joey Fendick had a hat trick and two assists and Noble had two goals and three helpers. Jon Diplock, Ian Paone, Owen Barker, Vanderhorst, Nick Agius, Stephen McFarlane, Gabe Sutherland and Andrew White were Nanaimo's other scorers. Pat Mallough tended goal.
GAME ON … After Thursday's road game, all the West Coast Senior Lacrosse Association teams get the long weekend off. Nanaimo's next action will be May 25 when it hosts Port Moody at 6:30 p.m. at the NIC.
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