Tri-City Bandits are again shooting for the top, and it was most evident after they out-gunned their prime opponents last weekend.
The Port Coquitlam-based Bandits posted back-to-back victories over the Valley Rebels and, as a result, leap-frogged their Abbotsford foes into first place in the eight-team West Coast Senior 'B' lacrosse league standings.
On Saturday, the Bandits' Ryan Mosdell played hero, knotted the score with three minutes left then clutching up for the winner with just one tick remaining to give Tri-City a thrilling 6-5 triumph at PoCo Rec Centre.
Andrew Murphy collected two goals and four assists to pace the Bandits, who got a goal and two helpers from Coquitlam Jr. 'B' call-up Steven Neufeld. Ryan McNabb also struck net for the winners, who got a 35-save performance from goalie Andrew Leyshon.
On Friday, Murphy and Cam Appels pumped in three goals apiece as the Bandits thumped the Rebels 11-4 in Abby.
Curtis Sim added two tallies for Tri-City, with singles going to Darren McEwen, Jordan Wong and Justin Hawksbee. Brandon Atherton collected three assists for the Bandits, with goalie Chad Miller blocking 31 shots.
The victories boosted the Bandits to 13-4-0-1, good for 27 points and a one point margin over the Rebels and two up on the Ladner Pioneers heading into this week's action.
Next, the Bandits host the 2-14-0-1 North Shore Indians at 8 p.m. on Saturday at PoCo Rec Centre, then wrap up regular-season play Monday night in Port Moody versus the 11-7-0-1 Thunder.
The Bandits are aiming for their fifth straight B.C. provincial title and their eighth in the last nine years.
The President's Cup national championship is set to begin Aug. 27 in Edmonton.
