The junior A New Westminster Salmonbellies remained true to their No. 2 national ranking, bettering the Coquitlam Adanacs 12-10 on Wednesday.
The win clinched the B.C. Junior Lacrosse League season series with the A’s and vaulted the ’Bellies into first place a point ahead and with a single game in hand over their Coquitlam rival.
Josh Byrne continued his torrid scoring pace since returning to the Salmonbellies’ lineup, leading all scorers with four goals and three assists. He is currently on an eight-point per game clip in his first six games following his sixth consecutive junior A hat trick.
Johnny Pearson also collected four goals for New West, three of them coming in a pivotal six-goal middle period, which proved the difference in the outcome.
“We happened to get on the right side of the stick tonight,” said Byrne after the game.
New West outshot the home club 59-45 at the Coquitlam Sports Centre.
Ross Bowmen recorded the win in goal, stopping 35 Adanac shots. Coquitlam’s Riley Camazzola was busier, handling 47 shots on goal.
Coquitlam’s ace Wesley Berg was held in check, tallying just once in a two-point outing.
Anthony Malcom and Adam Dickson collected four and three assists, respectively, for New West.
But one of the most telling stats was special teams.
The junior ’Bellies potted five goals with the extra man, all of them coming in the second period onward as New West slowly distanced themselves from the Adanacs in the latter stage of the contest.
“We preach discipline in our locker room and our players move (the ball) around as much as we can – make heads turn – and goals come easier,” said Byrne.
The game was tied on five separate occasions in the first 40 minutes, but Byrne’s pump-fake goal on a long pass from Bowman late in the second period, put the ’Bellies up two goals heading into the final frame.
The victory was New West’s ninth straight win and improved the team’s record to 14-1-0.
The two teams play a third game on July 2 in Coquitlam.
“We still have one game against (Coquitlam) and we want to finish strong,” Byrne added.
New Westminster takes on the Nanaimo Timbermen at Queen’s Park Arena on Sunday at 5 p.m. The juniors will also host Langley on Tuesday at 8 p.m.
