Don't be fooled by the score: Game 4 in the Western Lacrosse Association (WLA final was anything but dull.
With the New Westminster Salmonbellies leading the series two games to one, they headed to the Langley Events Centre for Game 4 on Tuesday night (Aug. 22).
It came on the heels of an action-packed Game 3 at Queen's Park Arena that went into double overtime — with the Salmonbellies ultimately winning 11-10 in sudden-victory double OT.
Game 4 was a low-scoring game, with goalies for both teams making some amazing stops. Ultimately, the Langley Thunder topped the Bellies 6-5 in overtime.
It was a tight game, with the score tied at 1-1 after the first period and 3-3 after two. That came after Bellies defender Brett Mydske, who had one goal in regular-season play, put one into the net with 1:01 left in the middle period.
The two teams were tied 4-4 after the third period. With 18 seconds left on the clock, Will Malcom scored to tie the game and force overtime.
In the 10-minute overtime period, New West scored first — and took its first lead of the game — with a goal by Kevin Crowley, just over a minute into OT.
Langley answered with a goal four minutes later, when Dylan Kinnear tied it up for the Thunder.
With the score tied at 5-5, some fans were wondering if the game would go into sudden-victory overtime like the previous game in Queen’s Park. But, with 1:22 remaining in the overtime period, Chase Scanlan scored what would be the game-winning goal.
Zach Higgins, in goal for the Salmonbellies, faced 46 shots, while the Bellies had 47 shots on Thunder goalie Frank Scigliano.
Scigliano was the game’s first star, Higgins was second star and Clay Scanlan, who had two goals for the Thunder, was the third star.
Game 5 in the best-of-seven playoff series is on Thursday (Aug. 24) at Queen’s Park Arena at 7:30 p.m. and Game 6 is at the Langley Events Centre on Saturday (Aug. 26). Game 7, if necessary, will return to Queen's Park Arena on Tuesday (Aug. 29).
The winner of the WLA Sr. 'A' lacrosse finals will host the Major Series Lacrosse champion and compete for the Mann Cup in September.
The Peterborough Lakers, who have won the past four Mann Cups, and the Six Nations Chiefs are playing for the Eastern title. Six Nations is leading the series 3-0 and will try to eliminate Peterborough in Game 4, which is tonight (Aug. 23).
