Thunder comeback bid falls short, lose finale to Saints

Langley Thunder's Noah Buchan gets past a fallen Port Coquitlam Saints player during BC Junior A Lacrosse League game at Langley Events Centre on July 16. The Saints scored the final four goals to win 15-11 to wrap up the regular season. Ryan Molag photo

The Langley Junior A Thunder will open the BC Junior A Lacrosse League playoffs against the first-place Coquitlam Adanacs.

The first-round matchup was finalized on the final day of the regular season on Thursday night as the visiting Port Coquitlam Saints defeated the Thunder 15-11 at Langley Events Centre.

The teams entered the game battling for playoff positioning, with the Saints (12-6, 24 points) finishing three points ahead of fourth-place Langley (10-7-1, 21 points).

The Thunder now face the Adanacs (14-3-1, 29 points) in a best-of-five opening-round series. During the regular season, Langley earned a tie while also suffering a one-goal loss and a lopsided defeat against Coquitlam.

"I think we have to play a cleaner style of lacrosse. I still think we are making too many unforced errors," said coach Matt Beers when asked what his team needed to do to be successful.

"We need to find that balance between playing an aggressive style while limiting our mistakes. That is something we are still searching for."

Port Coquitlam jumped out to a 9-3 first-period lead before the Thunder responded by scoring five of the next six goals to pull within 10-8 heading into the third period. Langley later erased the remaining deficit to tie the game at 11, but the Saints closed with the final four goals.

Parker Doyle and Koji Okuyama each finished with two goals and an assist, while Austin Vanichuk and Daniel Battistin contributed a goal and two assists apiece. Scott Williams, Wyatt Hofer, Noah Buchan and Kade Hoogstraten each had a goal and an assist, with Mason Eastgate adding the other marker.

Deklan Morrison came on in relief during the opening period and stopped 43 of 51 shots as Port Coquitlam outshot Langley 67-52.

Lincoln Wall, Josh Mills and Elijah Terry each recorded hat tricks for the Saints.

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