The New Westminster Salmonbellies tuned up for a first-place clash with Coquitlam on Saturday with a 12-8 win over Port Coquitlam.
The junior A Salmonbellies spotted the Saints a 3-0 first-period lead at the Poco rec centre last Friday.
In the second period, New West flooded the home-team net with seven goals in the middle frame to take over firm control of the game.
Luke Gillespie and Josh Byrne led the second-period charge, potting a pair of goals apiece.
New West outshot the Saints 32-8 in the second period.
Rookie Jeremy Bosher helped put the game away in the dying moments of the final period, completing his fourth hat trick of the season with his 26th and 27th goals of the year.
Byrne also collected a hat trick - his fifth of the season - midway through the third period.
The first-year 'Bellie currently sits in third place in B.C. Junior Lacrosse League scoring with 32 goals and 74 points behind Delta snipers Cody Nass and Eli McLaughlin.
McLaughlin leads all goal scorers with 48, including a league-leading 15 on the power play.
Ross Bowman got the win in goal for New West, making 30 saves.
The Salmonbellies registered more than 60 shots on goal for the third consecutive game.
The victory, the junior Salmonbellies 12th this season, drew New Westminster into a first-place tie with the No. 1 nationally ranked Adanacs.
New Westminster moved up to third from fourth in the weekly power rankings.
This Saturday, Queen's Park Arena will be the scene for what could be the series-clinching matchup for the junior 'Bellies against the defending playoff champions. Game time is 8 p.m.
New West won the first meeting against Coquitlam 10-8 back in April.
Coquitlam and New West are scheduled to play again in Coquitlam on July 5.
Coquitlam will have played one game more than New West when the two teams meet on Saturday.
New Westminster will play a second home game this weekend, when they face the Nanaimo Timbermen at Queen's Park Arena on Sunday. Game time is 5 p.m.
Going outlaw?
A recent news release by sports editor Josh Aldrich of the Nanaimo Daily News is reporting there is a movement afoot to explore the possibility of the B.C. junior A league leaving the Canadian Lacrosse Association.
According to the June 14 article, at issue is player safety and development and transfer payments.
Go to bcjunioralacrosse. com and click on news, BCJLL looking at leaving CLA for more on the story.
