Second-period surge sends Thunder to victory

Declan Fitzpatrick fires a shot on goal during BC Junior A Lacrosse League action against the Victoria Shamrocks on May 28 at Langley Events Centre. Fitzpatrick scored once and set up another as the Thunder were 10-7 winners in Burnaby on June 7. Ryan Molag LEC file photo

Four goals in less than four minutes gave the Langley Thunder the cushion they needed on Wednesday night.

The Thunder were at Bill Copeland Sports Centre facing the Burnaby Lakers in BC Junior A Lacrosse League action with Langley winning 10-7. The victory improved Langley to 3-8 while the Lakers record drops to 4-7.

Langley scored the first three goals of the game and never trailed in the contest, but the Lakers pulled to within a goal with 7:29 to play in the second period. The Thunder would respond with a goal 22 seconds later, sparking a 4-0 run and they held a multi-goal advantage the rest of the way.

Brayden Wandler made 50 saves (.877 save percentage) as Langley was outshot 57-50 while captain Stuart Phillips had two goals and six points. Cody Malawsky marked his return to the lineup with a pair of goals while Luke Pisani and Declan Fitzpatrick each had a goal and an assist. Chase Schiavon, Bailey Vanichuk, Liam Taillefer and Jayme Brain scored once apiece and Braiden Struss finished with two assists.

Marcus Klarich (3+1), Joel McCormick (2+2) and Ethan M'Lot (1+3) all had four-point games for Burnaby. Marc Rippberger stopped 40 of the 50 Langley shots.

The Thunder have now won two of their past three games and they will look to string together back-to-back victories for the first time this season as they face the Port Coquitlam Saints on Friday (June 9) at 8:00pm at the Port Coquitlam Community Centre.

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