Head coach Nick Delmonico told The Tri-City News on Wednesday that his PoCo Saints' offensive cast needed to "step up a little" in order to for the squad to stay alive in the playoffs.
Well, on Thursday, it didn't - but the Langley Thunder certainly did.
The Thunder pumped in seven third-period goals on way to a 13-6 victory over the Saints at PoCo Rec Centre to wrap up their best-of-three B.C. Junior 'A' lacrosse league quarter-final in two straight games.
The Thunder opened the series via a tight 5-4 triumph in Wednesday's opening game in Langley.
On Thursday, the teams were knotted 4-4 after the first period before the Thunder took control, out-scoring the Saints 9-2 the rest of the way.
In fact, after Saints' leading scorer Nash Harrison tallied late in the first period to give his squad a short-lived 4-3 lead, PoCo didn't strike net again until Richard Lachlan did so at 4:16 into the third -- about 25 minutes later and during a span in which Langley whipped in five goals.
Lachlan finished with two goals for the Saints, who got a goal and three assists from Garrett Chan.
Other PoCo goal-getters were Tyler Pace, Brock Whiteley and Harrison, who was unable to dress in Game 1.
The Thunder's Colton Dow racked up a game high eight-points on four goals and four helpers.
Langley out-shot PoCo 47-39, including 23-13 in the final frame.
Coquitlam Jr. Adanacs received a first-round bye after finishing in top spot during the regular season and will play either the Thunder or the winner of the ongoing other quarter-final between the New Westminster Jr. Salmonbellies and the Victoria Jr. Shamrocks.
