The Langley Thunder played like a desperate team and New Westminster didn't.
That was the difference said Salmonbellies head coach Dan Perreault following his team's 5-3 loss to the Langley Thunder in Game 3 of the B.C. Junior Lacrosse League best-offive semifinal playoff at Queen's Park Arena on Tuesday.
New West managed just one goal in each of the three 20-minute periods.
The tipping point came in a five-minute span in the middle frame, when Langley finished the period with three unanswered goals, including a shorthanded marker from Johnny Pearson and an own-goal that was deflected past Salmonbellie keeper
Frank Scigliano by one of his own defenders.
Tyler Glebe had his best playoff game to date for the Thunder, stopping 40 Salmonbellie shots.
Scigliano also played well, making 41 saves at the other end of the floor.
"Overall, they played like a desperate team and we didn't," said Perreault. "We didn't move our feet ... they beat us to loose balls, too."
Second-year Langley runner James Rahe, said a good practice on the Sunday before the game got the team focused.
"Right at the gate we knew we had to come out harder than we've ever done before," said Rahe after the game. "That was the difference - our communication and our help." Langley's pressure defence and New West's lack of ball movement was
the main reason for the Salmonbellies' low-scoring.
"We've all gelled and come together, and that's not going to change," Rahe said, adding going back to Langley for Game 4 is further incentive to the team. "We've got to protect our house. We just sent a message and we have to come out and back it up," he said.
The game was played Thursday at the Langley Events Centre (after Record deadlines).
If necessary, a fifth and deciding game will be played at Queen's Park Arena on Sunday, beginning at 4 p.m. In the other semifinal, league champion Coquitlam leads the Victoria Shamrocks 2-0. Coquitlam could wrap up the series on Saturday at home. Game time is 3 p.m.
