Keegan Bal broke open a deadlocked B.C. Junior Lacrosse League game, sparking the New Westminster Salmonbellies to a 12-7 win over the Port Coquitlam Saints on Tuesday.
Tied 7-7 seconds into the third period, Bal's hat-trick goal in the opening minute of the final frame kickstarted a six-goal Salmonbellie rally.
Anthony Malcom, with his second goal of the game, Bal with his fourth, and Jakob Doucet all scored in a one-minute span to give the junior A 'Bellies the margin of victory.
Both teams traded goals and the lead through the first 40 minutes of play in a game in which both goaltenders - Frankie Scigliano for New West and PoCo's Garrett Spann looked sharp.
"I give them (PoCo) credit. They played well in the first and second period. We were a bit stagnant on offence," said Bal, who led all scorers with a sixpoint night. "It was just more of a team effort in the third. It's when we're at our best."
New West was forced to play catchup until 4: 19 of the second period, when Malcom found the back of the net on an unassisted power-play goal off his own rebound.
Scigliano helped the 'Bellies keep the lead, stopping PoCo's Cody L'Arrivee with an arm save on a clear-cut break.
Rookie Luke Gillespie made a strong debut for New West, scoring twice and assisting on three others.
"We just needed these two points and we dug deep, Bal said of the momentum shift in the third. "It's definitely a good feeling. You can feel that momentum and you just kind of roll with that through the game."
New Westminster has a tough stretch coming up, beginning with Delta on Saturday.
The juniors are then at home Sunday for a 5 p.m. start against Victoria, before entertaining the Coquitlam Adanacs at Queen's Park Arena on Tuesday.
The first-place A's were upset on Wednesday 12-11 by Langley after both Coquitlam goalies were kicked out of the game on illegal equipment calls. Langley responded with eight goals in the third period to steal the win.
