The New Westminster Salmonbellies hold a possible playoff date in their hand.
That game - a seriesdeciding matchup against the Coquitlam Adanacs - was played Thursday (after The Record deadlines).
It was all made possible by the 'Bellies 9-6 upset win over league champion Langley Thunder on Wednesday.
"New Westminster fashioned a four-goal third period that elevated the senior A club into a temporary tie with the
Adanacs for fourth place in the nailbiting windup to the Western Lacrosse Association season.
"It comes down to we control our own destiny, and that's the position we wanted to be in," said New West head coach Steve Goodwin. "It comes down to whoever wins tonight (Thursday)."
Jordan McBride opened the scoring at the Langley Events Centre in the third minute, in what turned out to be a 3-3 all-New Westminster first period.
Former New West juniors Kyle McEwen and Brett Mydske both scored to give Langley a 2-1 lead.
Daniel McQuade then answered Curtis Hodgson's game-tying goal with a go-ahead marker for the Thunder.
Ilija Gajic then knotted
the score late in the period.
Tom Johnson opened the final period with his first of two third-period goals.
Minutes later, third star Kevin Crowley, playing in just his fourth game for the 'Bellies this season, potted the eventual game-winner with his second of three goals.
Neil Tyacke - a sentimental
favourite for New Westminster's player of the year - was the game's first star with a 48-save performance in the 'Bellies cage.
Tyacke, who has played more minutes than any other goalie this season, boasts a league thirdbest
.803 save percentage. "We've played well, with the exception of the game in Victoria coming back-to-back. We've beaten Victoria, we've beaten Burnaby, and we've beaten Langley. Since July 5, we've been playing pretty good ball," said Goodwin. "Other than that, I'm happy with how we've been playing. The players have stepped up to the plate."
New West played its final home game of the season against the A's on Thursday (after Record deadlines).
