A strong third period decided an otherwise testy encounter with the junior A Burnaby Lakers.
The New Westminster Salmonbellies erupted for five goals in a seven-minute span to down the Lakers 13-9 at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre on Friday.
Tyler Digby and Daniel McQuade posted three points apiece in the final frame to solidify the 'Bellies hold on second place in the B.C. Junior Lacrosse League.
Digby led all scorers with four goals and a pair of assists, while McQuade garnered five points, including a pair of third-period goals for New West.
But the first two periods were anything but a cakewalk.
Burnaby struck first with the first of two goals by Blake Mattinson.
Digby and Reagan Harding, with back-to-back goals, struck back for the junior 'Bellies to knot the score 4-4 after one period.
New Westminster had trouble distancing itself from the troublesome Lakers in the middle period as well despite a threegoal burst late in the frame from Leif Mydske, Digby and Jordan Catton.
"We let them outwork us a little bit and we had to come back and grind it out," said Digby, who conceded the Burnaby goalie had a lot to do with the Salmonbellies tough start.
"Their goalie was playing well. We got lots of shot at him."
In fact, New Westminster outshot the Lakers 60-37 over the course of the game.
But Patrick Bayliss stopped 47 of them in one of his best outings this season.
Brandon Mulligan came on in relief of starter Spencer England in the first period to post the win for New West.
"We were potting (goals) one-for-one for a while and they began to get comfortable," Digby added. "But (we) have been together for a long time, the core is all New West kids, and it shows the confidence we have. We've won before and we can win again."
But can that same attitude translate into wins against the 19-0-0 junior Adanacs? Digby thinks so.
"It's not that big a discrepancy in talent," said Digby, adding it's all about how the team prepares itself for its final three games in the regular season.
"If we go out and have a stinker it might not mean anything in the standings, but we have to come out and get on a roll," he said.
New Westminster played a rematch with Burnaby at home on Tuesday (after Record deadlines).
The Salmonbellies also play the last-place Saints in Port Coquitlam on Friday before finishing up the season against the Nanaimo Timbermen at Queen's Park Arena on Saturday. Game time is 5 p.m.
tberridge@royalcityrecord.com
