The New Westminster Salmonbellies are knocking off the league leaders - one by one.
For a second straight B.C. Junior Lacrosse League game, the junior A Salmonbellies pulled off a mild league upset, handing the Victoria Shamrocks a 13-10 defeat on the Island last Saturday.
The win, New West's second in a row over a top nationally ranked club, came less than two weeks after a 13-9 loss in Langley back in May.
The junior 'Bellies responded to that loss with an 11-10 victory over the same Langley club at home earlier last week.
But Saturday's win over Victoria, currently ranked third in the nation, lifted the Queen's Park pack into a third-place tie with Langley and Coquitlam just two points back of league leaders Langley and Delta.
After spotting the hometown Shamrocks an early 2-0 lead, Quinn Smith sparked a five-goal reply, with his first of four goals in the game at the eight-minute mark of the first period.
Daniel Perreault, Connor Robinson, Anthony Malcom and Josh Byrne followed suit, scoring a goal apiece in five-minute span to give the visitors a lead they would not relinquish.
Luke Gillespie opened the second period with his seventh tally of the year.
Chris Nasato gave New West a five-goal bulge on a second power-play counter following a five-minute high sticking penalty to Victoria.
Robinson re-established New West's five-goal advantage midway through the final frame with his ninth of the year.
Frank Scigliano stopped 32 shots in goal to register the win.
Cody Hagedorn was busy in the Victoria net, handling 58 Salmonbellie shots.
Malcom and Byrne led all scorers with a goal and four helpers apiece in a game that all but two New West runners registered at least a point in the all-important win.
"(The league) is very close. Every game is important - every point counts," Victoria captain Brody Eastwood said. "It's competitive. It keeps the games competitive. . Those first two spots are important."
Despite its two most significat victories of the season, New West moved up just one spot in the suspect Subway national weekly rankings.
A closer look at some numbers might indicate New West is undervalued at No. 8.
The Salmonbellies' 115 goals for and 90 against is almost identical to that of the first-place Shamrocks.
As well, the team sports one of the league's lowest penalty minutes.
On special teams, New West boasts a league-best 32 power-play goals - nine markers more than Delta's next best mark.
The Salmonbellies also rank second in shorthanded goals with 10, just one behind the leader.
New West played Burnaby on Tuesday (after The Record deadlines).
tberridge@royalcityrecord.com
