Finding that scoring touch is proving elusive for the New Westminster Salmonbellies.
The senior A club dropped its second and third Western Lacrosse Association games in a row this weekend after a 7-4 loss to Maple Ridge at home Thursday followed by an 8-7 defeat in Coquitlam on Saturday night.
Lack of firepower up appears to be the No. 1 problem in recent weeks, where the Salmonbellies have managed just 18 goals for in their last three outings – a meager six goals a game average.
“We need to score goals,” said New West head coach Steve Goodwin following Thursday’s loss to the Burrards. “We have to get back to basics – second possessions, second opportunities and we’re not getting those second shots. We have to get some balls on offence.”
At home, the ’Bellies outshot Maple Ridge in an evenly played contest, where both goaltenders Alexis Buque for New West and Frankie Scigliano for the Burrards – Minto Cup combatants in last year’s Canadian junior A championships – garnered the top two stars, respectively.
This time Scigliano came away with the win following a 46-save performance for the Burrards. Buque had 41 stops at the other end of the floor.
“It’s a good feeling getting one here tonight,” said the former junior Salmonbellie keeper. “They have good team speed, we had to come back tonight and match that.”
Colton Clark opened the scoring for the ’Bellies on a transition goal from Buque midway through the first period.
The two teams traded the lead into the final frame before Riley Loewen gave Maple Ridge the lead for good with his hat-trick goal a minute later.
In Coquitlam, with Neil Tyacke getting the start in goal, New West took a 4-1 first-period lead. Tyacke was sharp, stopping 17 shots in the opening frame and 41 in the game.
The visitors mustered just 30 shots in reply on Coquitlam’s Adam Shute and only 19 in the latter two periods as Coquitlam came back with four goals in an eight-minute span of the third period to move into a fifth-place tie with New Westminster with identical 2-4-0 records.
New West got a goal each from transition runners Tyler Crompton and Jeff Cornwall to start the game.
“It’s not our defence’s job to score. We have to get our offence to score,” Goodwin said. “Our offence was off (on Thursday). We didn’t get inside like we have to and we’re going to correct that.
“Right now, the offence has to catch up with the defence and that’s what we need to do.”
Jordan McBride led Salmonbellie scorers with his team-high 10th goal and four assists, while Martin Cummings continued his strong early season play on the left side with his seventh and eighth goals of the campaign.
First star Brett Hickey had a game-high six points, including the 7-6 go-ahead goal midway through the final period.
New West hosts last-place Nanaimo Timbermen at Queen’s Park Arena this Thursday. Game time is a 7 p.m. start.
