The New Westminster Salmonbellies will have to put together a much better second half or risk a third straight year out of the playoffs.
The last-place Salmonbellies dropped their sixth straight Western Lacrosse Association matchup, falling 8-6 to the Langley Thunder at the Langley Events Centre on Wednesday.
An unanswered four-goal scoring spree midway through the middle period proved the difference in the outcome for the senior A ’Bellies.
Former New West juniors had strong outings for the second-place Thunder.
Alex Turner earned the game’s first star, topping all scorers with six points, including a pair of goals.
Daniel McQuade garnered three points, including one of the second-period counters that put Langley ahead 6-4.
Transition runners Tyler Crompton and Jesse Fehr got the visitors off to a good start, but Langley kept the contest close, ending the period down 3-2 despite being outshot 15-10.
New West game star Keegan Bal gave New West a 4-2 advantage early in the second period, but Athan Iannucci sparked the Thunder run with a power-play goal at 6:15. Turner tied it up off the ensuing faceoff to swing the momentum in Langley’s favour.
Alexis Buque took the loss in goal for the Salmonbellies. Brodie MacDonald registered the win with 35 stops.
The loss left New West at the bottom of the WLA ladder with a record of 2-7-0, currently six points out of a potential playoff spot.Langley improved its record to 6-5-0.
New West takes on Burnaby at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre today (Friday) at 7:45 p.m.
