One down, 17 to go.
The Coquitlam Adanacs' self-projected turnaround season started in the right direction Sunday, when they shaved the Burrards 7-5 in Maple Ridge to kick off the new Western Lacrosse Association campaign.
A's head coach Bob Salt was pleased just to get the win, especially given Coquitlam finished last among the seven WLA teams last regular season with a bleak 7-11 mark.
"At least we got one [win], no matter what happens the rest of the year," Salt joked.
With the game knotted 2-2, the A's struck for back-to-back shorthanded goals by rookie Jaxson Lee and veteran Steve McKinlay that proved the difference in the outcome.
The Burrards battled back to tie the contest 4-4 before the A's erupted for three straight markers, including Dane Dobbie's second of the game, to take command.
"It was tight and I kind of expected that," Salt said. "We were both missing some guys and, like us, they play good defence, too."
The game also featured 61 penalty minutes, although Salt thought that was more due to undisciplined actions rather than over-aggression. "I don't know that it was that chippy," he said. "[The refs] were calling some stuff pretty tight, especially away from the ball. I think we just have to adjust to what they're calling."
Trevor Evans, Daryl Veltman and Ryan Johnson, another newcomer, scored the other Coquitlam goals, with Veltman also contributing three assists.
Four former Tri-Cities' Junior 'A' players figured in the Burrards' scoring, including PoCo Saints' grads Tyler Miotto, Derek Lowe and Randy Daly, along with ex-Coquitlam Jr. Adanacs' player Brandon Bertoia. Blake Mattinson netted Ridge's other tally.
Salt believes the A's will face a much stiffer test when they host the New Westminster Salmonbellies in their home opener Saturday at Poirier Sports Complex, 7 p.m. "They're a good offensive team and we'll have to deal with that," he said. "It will be a tougher game but we have one game under our belt and we'll be ready for the challenge."
