When asked about his team’s slow start to 2017, New Westminster Salmonbellies’ head coach Steve Goodwin was quick to note that the Western Lacrosse Association season isn’t a sprint so much as a marathon.
This year’s 1-2 start is still yards better than last year’s 0-3, but still unsatisfactory. Searching for a better outcome, Goodwin feels part of the answer is in the sprinting.
After New West dropped two games the past weekend – falling
5-4 to the Victoria Shamrocks on Thursday, and 9-8 to the Coquit-lam Adanacs on Saturday – the big take-away for the coach is that better fitness is part of the solution.
“I don’t like it, I’m not happy about it and we’re working to ensure we’re better,” said Goodwin of the games, which followed a season-opening win over Nanaimo.
“It’s my belief that a big part of it comes down to fitness, that we’re just not getting to the bench quick enough.”
On both occasions, New West led after 20 minutes but saw that advantage fizzle during the second frame. Victoria counted four goals to jump ahead 5-2 with one period to play. In Coquitlam, the Adanacs rattled off five straight goals to flip an 8-4 deficit into a 9-9 contest.
“I usually think of us as a second period team, and we did quite well last year when we were on our 14-game (unbeaten) streak,” said Goodwin. “Let’s just say (the second period last week) hasn’t made me very happy.”
It’s the period, at home, where the run to the bench for the defence is the longest, he noted.
Against the Shamrocks, New West got a pair of goals from Mitch Jones, while Anthony Malcom counted once and set up two others. Sean Tyrell also scored, while Logan Schuss managed two assists but was stymied by Victoria’s Cody Hagedorn, who turned back all 12 of his shots.
Nathan Stewart and Jones netted two goals each in Coquitlam, with singles from Jakob Doucet, Austin Jerhoff, Jimmy McBride, Joel McCready and Quinn McKay.
New West plays host to Burnaby on Thursday, with an opening faceoff at 7:30 p.m. at Queen’s Park Arena.
