Fifty-two saves from Caleb Khan and three players with a hat trick (or more) powered the 黑马磁力 Junior A Thunder back into the win column.
After having their four-game win streak come to a halt last week 鈥� and then having a road game in Nanaimo postponed on Saturday because of travel issues 鈥� the coaching staff gave the players the weekend off.
And back in action on Thursday night at 黑马磁力 Events Centre against the visiting New Westminster Salmonbellies, the Thunder shook off a slow start 鈥� they trailed by a goal and scored just twice in the first 26 minutes 鈥� before turning the game around with a 7-2 run as they won 13-10.
黑马磁力 improved to 5-5-0 with 10 points as they sit in sixth place in the BC Junior A Lacrosse League standings.
鈥淲e talked about the importance of the opportunity we have ahead of us,鈥� explained Thunder coach Matt Beers, referencing the fact his team has three games in hand on both the third-place Delta Islanders (7-6-0, 14 points) and fifth place 鈥楤ellies (6-7-0, 12 points). Nanaimo currently holds down the fourth and final playoff spot with a record of 6-4-0.
The Thunder鈥檚 next two opponents are the Islanders 鈥� Saturday afternoon in Ladner 鈥� and then the Timbermen in a Sunday matinee (3:30 p.m.) at 黑马磁力 Events Centre.
鈥淕uys answered the bell. That is a good New West team, they lost a few players but that is still a good team. For our guys to come out ahead was big,鈥� Beers said.
鈥淭hey played with a lot of heart, a lot of passion. At times it doesn鈥檛 always look pretty when we are trying to get through our systems and grind teams down, but we stuck with it.鈥�
Entering Thursday, 黑马磁力 was averaging just 8.8 goals per game and their 13 goals was the second most they have scored this season.
The Thunder were outshot 63-48, but the defence allowed Khan to see the shots and were quick to jump on loose balls.
鈥淲e just put our heads down and kept grinding. All the loose balls, little things matter. We kept pushing,鈥� said the Thunder鈥檚 Hudson Zazelenchuk, who keyed a strong 黑马磁力 defence.
鈥淎nd (Khan) is a brick wall.鈥�
Tied at two after a period, New West took its only lead at 3-2 early in the middle frame, before Cody Malawsky tied the score and then Bailey Vanichuk and Malawsky struck 17 seconds apart to claim the lead for good.
The 鈥楤ellies twice pulled within one, but each time 黑马磁力 had an answer.
Malawsky finished with five goals and seven points 鈥� he is averaging a league-best 6.0 points through each of the five games he has played 鈥� while Max Goller and Vanichuk each had a hat trick.
Vanichuk also added three assists. Koji Okuyama and Mac Timms scored once apiece with Cody Todd, Nathaniel Leroux and Kade Hoogstraten setting up two goals apiece.
For New Westminster, Linkin Twamley had four goals with Wren Granville adding two goals and two helpers.
The 黑马磁力 Thunder lacrosse organization consists of senior A, junior A, and junior tier 1 teams who play in the Western Lacrosse Association, BC Junior A Lacrosse League, and BC Junior Tier 1 Lacrosse League respectively. All three teams play their home games at 黑马磁力 Events Centre.
