The New Westminster Salmonbellies lost their first meeting of the B.C. Junior Lacrosse League season to Coquitlam.
Two stout defences played centre-stage at the Queen's Park Arena following the Adanacs' 5-3 win over the host Salmonbellies.
"Our shortman kept us in the game and Frankie (Scigliano) was unreal. We just have to score goals," said New Westminster team captain Brandon Goodwin.
"They (the Adanacs) are still human, and we're at their level. It comes down to gelling as a team, and we're going to pick up as we go. That's what it's going to come down to."
Coquitlam took advantage of a pair of first-period power plays to wrestle the junior A 'Bellies to a 2-2 draw at the interval.
First-year runner Luke Gillespie tied the game at 1-1 with his sixth goal of the campaign.
Goodwin then gave New West its only lead of the contest on a nice finish at the left crease off a crossfloor pass through traffic from Kyle Dobbie.
Scigliano stopped 30 shots in the Salmonbellie cage.
Junior scoring leader Cole Schafer got the only goal of a tightly played second period to give Coquitlam a onegoal advantage.
Midway through the third period, A's Reid Reinholdt got the game-winner on a low bouncer from the right left side.
New West got one back in with the goalie pulled for a sixth attacker in the final minute of play.
Keegan Bal bounced a ball off the Coquitlam keeper's back from behind the net with 46 seconds remaining, but seconds later, Challen Rogers found a way through the 'Bellies defence to put the game away.
The Adanacs improved their firstplace record to 8-1-0, while New Westminster remained in third place, a point behind Delta, with a 6-3-0 record.
"(Coquitlam) has an unreal pressure defence. We've got to keep the ball moving and put them in circles," Goodwin said. "They have holes. We just got to fill 'em."
New Westminster will play host to Victoria at Queen's Park Arena this Sunday. Game time is 5 p.m.
