The Western Lacrosse Association standings tightened up a bit after the New Westminster Salmonbellies pulled off a dramatic 13-12 overtime victory at Queen’s Park Arena Thursday.
With an extra attacker on the floor, Joel McCready of the Salmonbellies scored with just 12 seconds left in regulation to force OT with an 11-11 tie. Then in the first minute of the 10-minute overtime period, Mitch Jones and Anthony Malcom, both assisted by Mike Messenger, scored 16 seconds apart to put New West out in front for good.
There were plenty of swings of momentum. At one point, Burnaby had a 7-4 lead before New West scored four to go ahead 8-7 early in the third. The Lakers responded with three straight to go up 10-8 before the ’Bellies got three of the last four goals in the third.
The victory puts New West (7-6-1) in a strong position to claim the fourth and final playoff berth. With four games remaining, the Salmonbellies have 15 points, six more than Nanaimo (4-8-1) and seven up on Coquitlam (4-7-0), although both those teams have games in hand on New West.
They are also positioned for a move up in the standings trailing Burnaby (8-4-1) and Victoria (8-4-1) by two points and first-place Maple Ridge (9-4-0) by three.
Malcom finished the night with four goals and an assist. Kevin Crowley, Logan Schuss and Jones had two apiece while singles went to McCready, Curtis Hodgson and Messenger, who chipped in with three assists.
The win came a night after the Salmonbellies suffered a 10-8 loss in Langley to the Thunder. Two of the three victories by last-place Langley have been over New West.
Schuss had three goals, Messenger two with Malcom, McCready and Zach Herreweyers scoring one each.
