Coquitlam Adanacs goalie Josh Phillips stood on his head Tuesday night but it was not enough to stop the Burnaby Lakers and notch a win in the first Western Lacrosse Association matchup of the season.
The A’s netminder stopped 40 of the 48 shots he faced during 59 minutes of action at the Bill Copeland Arena, earning third-star honours during the 8-6 road loss.
Things started off well for the visitors, who were first to light up the board with a Reid Reinholdt goal assisted by Ryan Johnson, who was recently named alternate captain for the season. The A’s held on to the 1-0 lead for the remainder of the opening frame, despite the Lakers registering 20 shots in the first 20 minutes of action.
But Burnaby started to find the net in the second period and tied the game with a goal from Jason Jones, who went on to score a hat trick and earn first-star honours, and Evan Messenger, the second-star of the game.
Coquitlam’s Jaeden Gastaldo briefly tied things up, but two more goals from Burnaby — one from Jones and another from Jackson Decker — restored the lead for the home team.
The A’s tied things up early in the third period when Reinholdt scored his second of the game, but the Lakers began to pull away on the scoreboard after that.
Messenger, Dane Stevens and Jones all scored to put Burnaby up 7-4 and despite a couple of late goals from the Adanacs’ Matthew Delmonico and Brian Gillis, Coquitlam was unable to re-take the lead. When the final buzzer sounded the visitors were down 8-6.
Now, Coquitlam will come home to the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex for a season home-opener against rivals the New Westminster Salmonbellies. This will be the Bellies first match of the season. For the full Western Lacrosse Association scheduled go to www.wlalacrosse.com.
JUNIORS
In B.C. Jr. ‘A’ Lacrosse League action, the Port Coquitlam Saints will host the Burnaby Lakers tonight (Friday, May 20) at the PoCo Recreation Centre (face off is at 8 p.m.). The team will then host the Victoria Shamrocks on Sunday (face off at 5 p.m.). The Coquitlam Jr. Adanacs will also play on Sunday, heading to the Bill Copeland Arena in Burnaby for a matchup against the Lakers.
ADANACS HOME OPENER
• What: Coquitlam Adanacs vs. New Westminster Salmonbellies
• Where: Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex (633 Poirier St., Coquitlam)
• When: Saturday, May 21, 7 p.m.
• More information: www.wlalacrosse.com
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