Thunder face 0-2 hole in semi-final series

Langley Thunder's Parker Doyle eyes up his opponent before making a move during Game 2 of the BC Junior A Lacrosse League semi-final series at Langley Events Centre on July 21. Gary Ahuja photo

The Coquitlam Adanacs scored the final three goals — the last into an empty net — to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five BC Junior A Lacrosse League semi-final series over the Langley Thunder.

Playing Game 2 of their best-of-five BC Junior A Lacrosse League semifinal series on Tuesday night at Langley Events Centre, the top-seeded Adanacs earned a 14-11 victory. The win came two nights after an 11-10 decision on their home floor in the series opener.

Another common theme through the opening two games has been the disparity in shots on goal. Coquitlam held a decisive edge, outshooting Langley 63-46 in Game 1 before following that with a 64-42 advantage in Game 2.

Creating more opportunities, however, is easier said than done against an experienced Adanacs defence.

“We have to work ourselves to the middle and we just have to manage the pressure a little bit better. We have our outlets, we have our game plan that works when we execute,” said Thunder coach Matt Beers.

“But they're a very good defense that plays the same system for the last three or four years and they're very good at it. We have to find ways to break their pressure and find ways to get more shots.”

With the score tied at two, Langley struck in quick succession for three goals in a span of 68 seconds for a 5-2 lead. The Adanacs cut the deficit to a goal after 20 minutes, at 5-4, and then each team scored four times in the middle frame.

Coquitlam opened the third period with three straight goals to take its first lead since scoring the game's opening goal.

The teams remained tied at 11 until the Adanacs broke through with just under four minutes to play before adding a pair of late goals, including an empty-netter, to seal the win.

Parker Doyle led the Thunder with a hat trick and four points, while Austin Vanichuk (2-3) and Jacob Glass (2-2) each recorded two-goal games. Daniel Battistin (1-3), Kade Hoogstraten (1-3), Scott Williams (1-2) and Mason Eastgate (1-1) rounded out the scoring.

Caleb Khan finished with 50 saves.

Marcus Khan, Caleb's younger brother who was acquired by Coquitlam in a trade earlier this season, stopped 24 of 30 shots in relief for the Adanacs while Nathan Chalmers and Ethan Gordon each had four-goal, five-point games.

In Game 1, Brayden Longacre (3-2) and Vanichuk (1-4) both had five-point games with Caleb Khan stopping 52 of 63 shots.

Facing elimination, the Thunder will look to keep their season alive when the series shifts back to the Coquitlam Sports Centre for Game 3 on Wednesday (July 22) at 7:00pm.

“I think the biggest thing is we have such a tight group. We enjoy playing together and you know for us it's live to find another day,” Beers said about the message to the team ahead of the do-or-die situation they face.

The Langley Thunder lacrosse organization consists of Senior A, Junior A and Junior Tier 1 teams who play in the Western Lacrosse Association, BC Junior A Lacrosse League and BC Junior Tier 1 Lacrosse League respectively. All three teams play their home games at Langley Events Centre.

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