New Westminster took itself out of the opening game of the B.C. Junior Lacrosse League final with a poor second period.
The visiting New West Salmonbellies gave up seven goals to the Coquitlam Adanacs in the opening game of the best-of-five championship final before falling 9-7 to the junior A's at the Coquitlam Sports Centre last Friday.
Leading 3-2 heading into the middle frame, New West allowed Challen Rogers to score on a rebound from teammate Tyler Garrison off the opening faceoff won by Taylor Stuart after just 10 seconds.
Just over a minute later, Andy Taylor gave Coquitlam the lead on a transition goal from Jordan Gillies and the die was cast.
Coquitlam scored twice more a minute apart to take a three-goal lead.
The A's then piled up a five-goal advantage after Cody Nass had tallied his first goal of the playoffs and New West's fourth power-play goal in the game at the midway mark of the second period.
Jeremy Bosher ended the period, scoring his second of the game and New Westminster's first evenstrength goal of the game after nearly 40 minutes of lacrosse.
"The second period was the game," said New Westminster head coach Dan Perreault. "Seven goals in one period is not in character for us. Sometimes you have to be smarter with the ball. We have to be smarter. Decision making with the ball is important."
The upside to the loss was New Westminster's five power-play goals, including two by Josh Byrne. Eli McLaughlin also potted his 10th goal of the playoffs and fourth from the left crease on the extra man.
But Coquitlam's looseball skills and speed up and down the floor were unmatched in the playoff final opener.
"Frank (Scigliano) makes the first stop. We got to get the ball. They came out with energy," said New Westminster assistant captain Quinn Smith.
Scigliano made 33 stops in the playoff opener. Davide DiRuscio made 35 saves in the Coquitlam cage.
The two teams played Game 2 at Queen's Park Arena on Tuesday (after Record deadlines).
Game 3 is back in Coquitlam today (Wednesday) at 7:30 p.m. If necessary, a Game 4 will be held at Queen's Park Arena on Friday, Aug. 9, beginning at 8 p.m. In the Ontario junior A league best-ofseven championship final, the nationally No. 1 seeded Six Nations Arrows currently lead the Whitby Warriors two games to one. Whitby defeated Six Nations 12-10 on Sunday.
Game 4 was played on Tuesday (after Record deadlines).
This year's Minto Cup Canadian national junior A lacrosse final will be held at Queen's Park Arena from Aug. 17 to 26.
WLA playoffs
The Western Lacrosse Association best-of-seven semifinals restart this week in the Lower Mainland.
The Langley Thunder, 10-8 winners in their opening game matchup at the Langley Events Centre last week, played the Coquitlam Adanacs on Tuesday (after Record deadlines).
Game 3 will be played back at the LEC on Thursday, beginning at 7:45 p.m. In the other semifinal, the Burnaby Lakers look to even their series with a win against the Victoria Shamrocks at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre today (Wednesday). Faceoff is also at 7:45 p.m. That series is back on Vancouver Island for Game 3 on Friday.
