Parity is quickly catching up with the New Westminster Salmonbellies.
The once near-invincible senior A Salmonbellies have fallen a recent victim to an ever-present new challenge from the Western Lacrosse Association, following a pair of losses last week to the Langley Thunder and the Coquitlam Adanacs.
The Thunder, upset winners over the 'Bellies in last season's WLA playoff final, proved it was still the better team, fashioning a 12-8 win over New West at Queen's Park Arena on Thursday.
The Salmonbellies then went into Coquitlam with a similar lineup and were beaten by an unlacrosse-like score of 5-1 on Saturday, losing for the third straight time this season.
"Our on-floor chemistry may be an issue right now," said Salmonbellies team captain Nenad Gajic after Thursday's loss.
With players coming in and out of the lineup and no longer able to commit to a full season with one team, it makes it tough work trying to find the consistency that is needed to compete effectively every night, Nenad said. "It's not just this league. There is parity in lacrosse - and there are not any easy games these days - they're not here anymore," he added.
At Seat for Soldiers IV on Thursday, it looked like New Westminster was the Salmonbellies of old, tallying two quick scores in the opening minute of play from Ilija Gajic and Sean Robinson on a shorthanded marker.
But three quick replies from former 'Bellie sniper Kerry Susheski turned the momentum completely in the Thunders' favour.
Langley went on to score six straight goals through the first and second periods until Nenad Gajic capitalized on a turnover in the offensive zone while killing off a penalty.
After that, the Salmonbellies worked hard to draw even through the remainder of the second period and into the third, getting the deficit to within a single goal on Alex Gajic's back-to-back markers midway through the final frame.
But Matt Wilson's unassisted marker on a two-on-one and moments later, Langley veteran Kyle McEwen's first of the year, reestablished a three-goal bulge.
The win for Langley was the team's first regular season win at Queen's Park since 2004. That year was also the last season that Susheski donned the red, white and blue jersey for the Fishmen.
"I really feel comfortable in this building," remarked Susheski after the game, adding the Thunders' lineup is near complete.
"Our defence is all intact and Brodie (MacDonald) is playing amazing," Susheski added. "(New West) want to win and they're cocky. We do what we can do, but we have swagger, (too), and the outcome shows it."
In Coquitlam, the Adanacs broke open a scoreless first period with three late goals in the final five minutes to take a 3-0 lead.
First star Nick Rose held the visiting Salmonbellies scoreless through the first 46 minutes of play, before rookie Mike Berekoff broke the shutout bid with his fifth goal of the season at 6: 03 of the third period from team scoring leader Jeff Zywicki.
Tyler Richards, who was also in the cage for New West's loss at home on Thursday, faced just 27 Adanac shots and saw his save average drop to .790 per cent.
New Westminster won't have much time to catch its breath before hosting Victoria at Queen's Park Arena on Thursday. Game time is 7: 45 p.m.
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After starting the season in second place in national LacrosseTalk rankings, New Westminster fell another two steps to sixth from fourth place following back-to-back loses to Langley and Coquitlam last week. The 'Bellies are currently 3-3-0.
