Lacrosse round-up
It was an interesting game in Burnaby on June 26. I was going to call it exciting, but it wasn't until the last period that the game really got going. In fact, during the first period, I became quite bored watching the Bellies give up so many points to the Lakers. We've seen this happen before with the Bellies, though. It's like they don't even try until they get themselves behind in the game, then they work towards a comeback. This is all very stressful for the fans, though, who wonder if they'll do it, or if they'll end up giving too little, too late.
But after being down 4 to 1 at the end of the first period and 7 to 4 at the end of the second, the Bellies did indeed manage to turn the game around. The last few minutes of the game were particularly thrilling.
Here's what the
Newsleader had to say:
"Trailing 7-5 in the final four minutes, Cliff Smith and Scott Stewart scored 24 seconds apart to tie the game. Kyle Ross got the winner less than a minute later with 1:46 left and then assisted on an insurance goal by [Chris Seller], his second of the game, with 35 seconds remaining." [The Newsleader account erroneously credited Kyle Ross for the final goal.]
Kudos to Lakers' goalie, Andrew Leyshon, for stopping 42 shots. I'm surprised he didn't get named one of the stars of the game for his stellar performance.
In other WLA action, Coquitlam hosted Victoria on Saturday in what turned out to be an incredibly high-scoring game. The Shamrocks strengthened their lead in the standings with an 18 to 11 win over the Adanacs. I wasn't able to make it to the game, but the WLA website has posted
coverage of all but the first few minutes of the game. I might have to snuggle in bed with my laptop tonight to watch.
The following night Langley and Maple Ridge played a rough and tumble game that saw over 60 minutes in penalties handed out. Langley won 11 to 6 and is now very comfortably in fourth place. Langley also has the distinction of being the only team who has been able to beat Victoria this season, which could make for an interesting semi-final if the top four remain the same.
Labels: Andrew Leyshon, Chris Seller, New Westminster Salmonbellies, WLA
Bellies stick it to the Adanacs
The New Westminster Salmonbellies put on a great show tonight at Queen's Park Arena. They were a well-oiled machine. I'm not sure what was wrong with the
Adanacs, but the Bellies ran circles around them. Even during the pre-game warm-up, it was obvious which team was in the better position to win. The As looked defeated before the first face-off. And the Bellies' scoring three goals in the first three minutes of play didn't help the Adanacs any either.
The As did manage to score on a power play in the second period. It was too bad. I was hoping the Bellies would get a shut-out.
Final score: 10-1 for the Bellies. Game 2 in the best of 7 is Thursday night in Coquitlam.
Labels: Coquitlam Adanacs, lacrosse, New Westminster Salmonbellies, WLA
WLA standings
To date, the
Victoria Shamrocks are in the lead with four wins and no losses, followed by the Salmonbellies with three wins and no losses. Surprisingly, Burnaby is in last place, tied with Nanaimo. It's early days yet, but this year is shaping up to be quite different from last year, when the Burnaby Lakers were near the top all season. What will happen in 2008 is anyone's guess.
Labels: lacrosse, WLA
Craig Conn and the rumour mill
Here's an
interesting thread on Craig Conn's injury and whether or not NLL players should be banned from playing summer ball. I haven't heard anything official about a ban and likely won't. It is, after all, just a chatroom rumour. Still, it's neat getting the perspective of US fans who, sadly, only get to watch NLL games. Of course, I'd like to think that, given the choice between the NLL and the WLA, players like Conn would choose the latter. As far as I'm concerned, summer box lacrosse IS lacrosse.
Labels: Craig Conn, lacrosse, NLL, WLA
Upstream battle for the Bellies
Here's a
great article on the WLA finals.
Larry Pruner writes, "That allowed Coquitlam goalie Chris Levis to come out and challenge the New West shooters, who hit him square in the ‘A’ on his chest so often it began to look like target practice." This remark is, well, right on target.
Labels: Adanacs, Salmonbellies, WLA
Too close for comfort
Well, the New Westminster Salmonbellies managed--just barely, mind you--to beat the Nanaimo Timbermen tonight at the Barn. Final score: 11-10. After a stellar first period that included a hat trick by
Nenad Gajic (1st star of the game), the Bellies fell apart. Runners stopped running, defenders stopped defending, and shooters shot directly at the goalie.
And speaking of goalies, as much as I appreciate Matt King's talent, I think he's nasty. Tonight he got two penalties. The first was for unsportsmanlike conduct, the second for holding. It was really more of a tackle, though--a childish play by a childish goalie. I'm also annoyed by his habit of constantly knocking the goal. Today it even cost the Bellies, for a goal didn't count because King moved the net again. I've never seen a goalie mess around with the net as much as King. His antics, however, don't discount the fact that he's one of the best goalies, if not the best, in the WLA.
We still don't know who the Bellies will be up against in the WLA finals. Coquitlam is leading Burnaby in the series 3-2.
Labels: lacrosse, Matt King, Nenad Gajic, WLA
