New Westminster was outquicked by the Victoria Shamrocks in its Western Lacrosse Association home opener on May 24.
The senior A Salmonbellies held the lead for a brief 27 seconds before falling to .500 after a 10-7 loss to the Shamrocks at Queen's Park Arena last Thursday.
Despite the difference of just three goals in the final score and three shots on goal by the visiting Victoria club, New West didn't appear a dangerous threat to take the game away from arguably the team to beat in the seven-team loop this season.
Victoria took a 2-0 first period lead on the first two of three power-play goals by National Lacrosse League Calgary Roughneck teammates Jeff Shattler and Scott Ranger midway through the stanza.
The Salmonbellies had a glimmer of greatness early in the middle period, when Jordan McBride sparked a three-goal spree, with his first of two goals in a five-point night, in the opening minute.
Milan Gajic, with his first career senior A goal, and rookie Jeff Cornwall, with a highlight behind-the-back marker going hard to the net, gave the home team a brief 4-3 lead.
But Shattler knotted things up with a low shot off the ensuing faceoff that beat Salmonbellie starter Neil Tyacke from the left side.
Victoria outscored New West 4-1 after that with the three game stars, Shattler, Ranger and Corey Small accounting for all the goals.
"We definitely want to improve. It's not enough," said Shattler after the game. "We got a real good shot at (a Mann Cup) this year."
Few could argue after Victoria answered the third period with three more goals to hold a 10-4 lead before the 'Bellies scored three in a row with Tyacke on the bench for an extra attacker.
"Our defence is our core. We want to put up over 10 (goals) and if we do, we should win most games," Shattler said. "We want to finish first. It's huge in the playoffs and I really think our team is capable of (winning a championship)."
If the Salmonbellies are going to have anything to say about challenging that outcome, they will have to pay more than lip service to new head coach Steve Goodwin's system.
"We want to play upbeat, upt-empo. That's the identity we want to have," said Gajic. "Victoria's going to be a good team, but we'll be good, too. . I just think we have to get used to it.
But getting rid of old habits can sometimes be a struggle, Gajic added.
After a fast-paced opening period that saw plenty of end-to-end action and almost 40 shots, the two teams settled into a more deliberate game stategy for the next two periods, with Victoria basically pressing while New West appeared more comfortable to hang back and defend.
"It's a process. We want to see progression and as long as we are progressing, I think we'll be all right," Gajic added.
On Sunday, New Westminster ran into a Maple Ridge team with young legs and an emerging superstar named Curtis Dickson, and wound up on the losing end of a 13-9 encounter.
The former New Westminster junior led all scorers with a nine-point outing, including five goals, three coming in a 5-1 first-period start for the Burrards.
Similar to Thursday night, New West allowed Maple Ridge to build a 7-2 advantage midway through the second period before clawing its way back into the deficit with four straight goals, including the first two goals of the season from No. 2 overall draft pick Logan Schuss.
The Burrards made the 'Bellies pay on the penalty kill, scoring on five of eight opportunities with the extra man. Dickson accounted for three of the man-up markers.
McBride led the Salmonbellie attack with three goals and one assist. Schuss also had a four-point night.
Neil Tyacke made just 28 stops in the New West goal. Off-season acquisition Chris Levis had 37 saves in the Maple Ridge goal.
The Salmonbellies will host winless Coquitlam Adanacs at Queen's Park Arena on Thursday night. Game time is 7: 45 p.m.
