The New Westminster Salmonbellies are finishing up the way they hoped they would.
The Salmonbellies chalked up perhaps their biggest win of the Western Lacrosse Association season following a 9-7 victory over the visiting Victoria Shamrocks at Queen’s Park Arena last Thursday.
The victory, coupled with a 10-7 win in Maple Ridge earlier in the week, have the Salmonbellies on a current four-game winning streak.
“I think it’s happening. We’re sitting in a good position and coming together as a unit,” said Salmonbellie defender Jeff Cornwall. “Right now, we’re either second or third. It’s not so much it gives us confidence - we’re already confident.”
The senior A ’Bellies gave up the first two goals of the game but claimed the lead before the first period was finished on Jordan McBride’s quick shot on goal from the right side.
First star Logan Schuss led the New West rally, figuring in on three of the Salmonbellies’ four unanswered goals in the opening frame.
Schuss, who led all scorers with three goals and six points, opened the second period with his first of the night on a power play
On two occasions in the middle frame, Victoria closed the deficit to a single goal. But each time New West bent but didn’t break.
Connor Robinson scored his first WLA goal at 6:18 of the second period to silence the first Victoria rally.
Schuss re-established a two-goal margin midway through the final period, finishing off a two-on-one shorthanded counter with Cornwall for the eventual game-winning goal.
But Victoria star Scott Ranger pulled the visitors to within a goal off the ensuing faceoff.
Schuss then tallied his third of the game off a right-side screen.
There were a few nervous moments late in the game, when New West took a tripping penalty with less than three minutes to go, but an athletic Cornwall rag kept the ball in the Salmonbellies’ possession.
“In our dressing room, we’re thinking about staying calm,” said Cornwall after the game. “They’re a good team; they’re going to get their goals. You have to have a short memory (in this game). When they score goals you have to keep trying to get the next one.”
New West will close out its regular season against the Burnaby Lakers at Queen’s Park Arena on Thursday. Game time is 7:45 p.m.
