A three-goal eruption midway through the second period broke a stalemate and lifted the defending Minto Cup champion Coquitlam Adanacs past the New Westminster Salmonbellies 13-8 in Game 1 of their B.C. Junior A Lacrosse League final.
Fresh off of being named the league's top defensive player for a second straight year, Reid Bowering tallied twice, including the eventual game winner, as Coquitlam took control of a contest where they only trailed for 55 seconds early in the contest. And while they kept grabbing the lead, for at least the first half of the game New West seemed to have an answer. The underdog 'Bellies responded four times to draw equal with Coquitlam, with the last time just prior to Bowering's decisive pair.
New West got a three-goal, two-assist performance from Larson Sundown, while Connor Robinson, who earlier in the week was voted league MVP, Top Graduating Player and chosen for Outstanding Achievement Award as well as a first team all star. Robinson won his second straight BCJALL regular season scoring title.
Netminder Erik Kratz, named as the league's top netminder and to the first all-star squad, turned aside 17 shots in the loss.
Jeremy Bosher, Nick Chaykowsky, Taylor Jensen and Dalton Lupul also scored for New West. Coquitlam also got two goals apiece from Matt McIlwrick and Chase Scanlan.
The series continues tonight (Monday, 7:30 p.m.) at Queen's Park Arena. Game 3 is slated for Wednesday in Coquitlam, with Game 4 going Friday in New West. A fifth game, if necessary, would be played Aug. 7 in Coquitlam, Game 6 Aug. 9 in New West, and a seventh game Aug. 11 in Coquitlam. All games start at 7:30 p.m.
