The Coquitlam Adanacs mounted a late charge Sunday in Victoria to upend the Shamrocks 13-6 and take a two-game lead in the B.C. Junior Lacrosse League semifinals.
"About halfway through the game we made a goalie change. We put in Pete Dubenski - our goalie that we traded for at the deadline from Nanaimo - and he took the opportunity to step up," said Adanacs coach Neil Doddridge.
Davide DiRuscio backstopped the Adanacs to a 6-5 lead before Dubenski came in and slammed the door, not allowing another goal until the final minute.
"We were trading goals and it was back and forth but we had the edge in play," said Doddridge. "We decided to change it up a bit and have them shoot on a different type of goalie. Pete's a very athletic, reaction goalie."
Wesley Berg (4-2-6) and Reid Reinholdt (1-5-6) led the Adanacs' offence, who also got scoring from Chase McIntyre (2), Challen Rogers (2), Tyler Garrison, Steven Neufeld and Cole Kryworuchka.
"With the moves we made at the deadline we're pretty solid on offence. We've got 10 legitimate offensive threats and our defence is kind of coming into its own. We pride ourselves on that and we really brought it up another level towards the end of the first period of Game 2," said Doddridge.
The Adanacs opened the best-of-five series with a 13-8 win at the Coquitlam Sports Centre Saturday.
"It's always tough to start a series after 13 days off and I think maybe we were a bit rusty for a period or two of Game 1 but we found our legs and really took it to them Sunday," said Doddridge.
Vincent Ricci paced the Coquitlam attack Saturday with five goals and an assist, while Reinholdt (4-3-7), Berg (1-6-7), Sam Goodman, Tyler Buchan and Neufeld rounded out the scoring.
"Definitely in both games we were getting contributions from all around," said Doddridge. "It's not all about goals, it's about setting picks as well."
He was also pleased Coquitlam was able to limit the Shamrocks to just one power play goal in each game despite numerous opportunities.
"We ran into a few penalties in both games but our short-man bailed us out to say the least. We're a young team as well so it's good to go through those situations."
Despite playing only two playoff games so far this season, both Berg and Reinholdt are in the top 10 in playoff scoring with 13 points. Victoria's Jesse King is the scoring leader with 9-14-23 in four games.
The series resumes Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Coquitlam Sports Centre. Game 4, if necessary, will go Sunday in Victoria.
In the other semifinal series, the New Westminster Salmonbellies hold a 2-0 lead over the Langley Thunder, winning the first two games 12-6 and 9-5.
