The New Westminster Salmonbellies kept their perfect 5-0 home record intact, following a 9-5 victory over the Coquitlam Adanacs at Queen's Park Arena last Thursday.
The first-place Western Lacrosse Association Salmonbellies looked like they were going to run the slumping Adanacs out of the building after a 5-0 first period.
Curtis Hodgson opened the scoring on a screen shot from the right side five minutes in that seemed to get the Salmonbellies moving.
New Westminster counted three more goals in the next four minutes, including back-toback shorthanded tallies by first star Curtis Manning and Ilija Gajic, who potted two goals in a two-minute span.
Team scoring leader Jeff Zywicki collected his 12th goal of the game to close out the period.
Manning then opened the middle frame with what appeared a back-breaking goal for the 'Bellies, rushing the full length of the floor to score his second of the game unassisted.
But a better effort by the A's, fueled by a hat trick by Daryl Veltman, closed the deficit to two goals after a turnaround in opportunities for both teams.
Coquitlam got to within a single goal on Robbie Campbell's shorthanded marker early into the final period when New Westminster keeper Matt Roik, perhaps unwisely, vacated his net in an attempt to stop the rookie ball carrier.
But at that point, the momentum appeared to change.
Corbyn Tao put the home team up by two. Then third-year lefthander Sean Robinson intercepted an attempted Adanac clearing pass in the offensive zone and snapped a quick shot by a baffled Brandon Atherton.
Ian Hawksbee made sure there would be no last-minute Coquitlam heroics, firing his fifth goal of the year into an empty net.
"Everyone brings their best against us for some reason," said Robinson after the game. "It just seems when it comes to crunch time we pull it out, and I don't know if it's that we're in better shape, or are mentally tougher, or have more t of experience even, playing more Mann Cups and stuff."
Whatever it is, Robinson said it's a combination of a full roster of talented runners, who are fighting for spots each and every game.
"It has to be," he added. "We're all going out to fight for spots. You've got be ready to go every day."
Another player happy to be back in the lineup is team captain Nenad Gajic, who had been slowed by injuries over the last few seasons.
"It's a lot of fun and especially to be part of this team is really special. It's nice to be back on the floor and enjoying
the game again," Nenad said.
But while the goal of a fourth straight trip to the Mann Cup continues to dangle just out of reach, Nenad warns there is a danger to thinking too far down the road.
"Just look at tonight. We can't get ahead of ourselves when every team has the same goal," he said.
One team that has given New Westminster a great deal of difficulty this season is the Langley Thunder. The two teams meet at Queen's Park on Thursday, with the season series at stake. Game time is 7: 45 p.m.
The 'Bellies then play the following night in Victoria.
