The white-knuckle Western Lacrosse Association playoff race just got a whole lot more exciting following New Westminster's 10-9 upset win over first-place Langley on Thursday.
The win tightened up a tense six-team race already arguably stretched to a breaking point.
New West's win left just seven points separating the top six teams still in the hunt for one of four spots in the WLA post season.
With the best home record in the league, New Westminster has two games left at Queen's Park Arena, including this Thursday's matchup against the sixth-place Nanaimo Timbermen.
The T-Men are currently sitting with 13 points and five games remaining, while the 'Bellies are knotted at 14 points with both Victoria and Coquitlam, who they played Tuesday (after Record deadlines) in the capital city and July 26 at home, respectively.
Corbyn Tao led the Salmonbellies with four points, including the gamewinning goal at 16: 08 of the final period with his second marker of the match.
Just seconds before, Jordan McBride tied the game with his 11th goal of the year.
"It's a dogfight for us. It was a huge win for us," said Salmonbellie defender Ian Hawksbee. "Everyone kind of counted us out, but we don't believe in that as a group. Hopefully that (win) turns the corner for our season."
Prior to Tao's game-winner, the New West club had held a pair of brief leads for less than five total minutes in the game.
The difference was the goalkeeping of regular backup and third star Neil Tyacke, who stopped 46 of 55 shots in his first win of the season in goal.
Brodie MacDonald made just 36 saves in the Langley cage.
Eric Lewthwaite, with a three-point night, tied the score 7-7 midway in the second period off a faceoff just 10 seconds after Curtis Hodgson got the home team back into it with his third goal of the season.
Jesse Fehr also enjoyed a three-point outing for the 'Bellies.
"This was the first time this season we put in 60 minutes and outworked a team," added Hawksbee, who contributed a pair of helpers in the win over Langley.
Former Salmonbellie forward Kerry Susheski led all scorers with four goals and five points for the Thunder.
Ilija Gajic leads the Salmonbellies in team goal and overall scoring with 15 markers and 36 points.
The New Westminster club, currently on a fourgame winning streak at home, is back at Queen's Park Arena on Thursday against the Nanaimo Timbermen. Game time is 7 p.m.
