They had control, then they lost it.
But when the smoke cleared, the New Westminster Salmonbellies proved to be up for the challenge on Saturday, knocking off the Maple Ridge Burrards 11-9 in overtime to force Game 6 in their best-of-seven semifinal.
The Western Lacrosse Association series continues tonight (Monday, 7:30 p.m.) at Queen's Park Arena.
When Mitch Jones buried a shorthanded opportunity behind the Burrards' Frank Scigliano with 31 seconds left in the third, giving New West a 8-7 lead, there was cause to celebrate. However, with forward Kevin Crowley still serving the final minute of a five-minute elbowing major, Maple Ridge won possession and cut to the chase, forcing extra time on Dan Taylor's powerplay marker with 12 seconds left in the third.
However, New West wasn't about to let its season end so early, and came right back out after the short break with Joel McCready's tally 25 seconds into the 10-minute overtime. It was followed by Crowley's third of the night 27 seconds later. While Zach Porter made it a one-goal game, counting a shorthanded chance with 3:53 remaining for the Burrards, Justin Goodwin salted it away for New West into an empty net with 2:01 to play.
Both netminders were kept busy, as the 'Bellies outshot Maple Ridge 59-54.
Jones, McCready and Robinson finished with two goals apiece, with MIke Messenger chipping in with a single.
The Burrards lead the series 3-2.
If New West can pull out a win tonight, Game 7 would go Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. at the Cam Neely Arena in Maple Ridge.
The other series has gone to a seventh-and-deciding game, after the Burnaby Lakers topped the Victoria Shamrocks 8-5 on Sunday. That series will be decided on Tuesday, 6 p.m. at Burnaby's Copeland Sports Centre.
