Coquitlam got a solid goaltending from Nick Rose giving them a 9-8 victory at the Sports Centre Tuesday before a 1800 fans evening their best of seven final in the WLA series at 1-1.
Dane Dobbie was strong for Coquitlam with a 7 point night (2 goals and 5 assists) and Jones a four point night with a pair of each.
The opening period saw the game change hands twice with the Adanacs jumping off to a 2-0 lead with goals by Halliday and Jones 35 seconds apart. Langley got one back when Iannucci got the Thunder on the scoreboard 35 seconds later cutting the lead to 2-1, but Coquitlam re-established the two goal lead when Olson beat McDonald making it 3-1 midway through the first.
Langley came back to take the lead on goals by Iannucci (second of the night) and Ratcliff in a minute span jumping to a 4-3.
The Adanacs regained the lead prior to the end of the period as Jones and Cornwall scored 16 seconds apart taking a 5-4 lead at intermission. Shots in the period were 17-13 for the Thunder.
The second period was close checking and solid goalkeeping but the Adanacs maintained their 5-4 lead as McDonald and Rose took turns making key saves in the game.
Special teams were solid killing off key PP’s keeping it a one goal game.
Langley restored their lead (second of the game) with late goals by Reinholdt and Iannucci (hat trick goal) in the final two minutes giving them a 6-5 lead heading into the final. Period shots after forty minutes were 29-21 for Langley.
Coquitlam tied the game on a goal by Halliday (1:53 in) and took their third lead (7-6) of the match on a goal by Dobbie at 7:33. Langley got even when Iannucci scored midway through the third tying the game at 7-7.
In the second intermission the Adanacs saluted the Tri-City Bandits who were in attendance on their Senior B Lacrosse title and now advance to the Presidents Cup Lacrosse Tournament starting August 27 in Spruce Grove Alberta.
Coquitlam’s Dobbie completed his hat trick scoring back to back goals 41 seconds apart (both on the PP’s) including the game winner giving his team a 9-7 lead.
Langley’s Turner beat Rose with five minutes left cutting the Adanacs lead to 9-8.
Final shots in the game were 44-34 for Langley as the series now shifts to the Event Centre in Langley on Thursday. Game time 7:45pm for game three and game four goes Saturday at Coquitlam. Also a 7:45pm start
Other Action:
In the Ontario Lacrosse Association Six Nations defeated Peterborough 12-9 as the Petes remain in front of that series.
In the Minto cup see’s the Orangeville Northmen defeat Calgary 15-1 to go through the round robin portion undefeated 3-0 advancing to the finals.
Whitby beat Coquitlam 17-8 moving to 2-1 in round robin and will play Coquitlam (1-2) in the semi-finals to see who will play Orangeville in the best of three finals for Junior A Lacrosse in Canada.
Whitby are the defending champions.
