Islanders score late, snap Thunder win streak

Cole O'Callaghan scoops up a loose ball during the Langley Junior Tier 1 Thunder's game against the visiting Delta Islanders at Langley Events Centre on June 10. Ryan Molag photo

With overtime looming, the visiting Delta Islanders' Owen Hoegg scored the game-winner with 26 seconds to play as the visiting Delta Islanders rallied to defeat the Langley Junior Tier 1 Thunder 12-11.

The game was played on Tuesday night at Langley Events Centre and it was the teams’ second meeting in five days with the Thunder winning 10-6 on June 6 in Delta. The split leaves Langley with an 11-4 record – good for second place – in the BC Junior Tier 1 Lacrosse League while the Islanders sit in sixth spot at 6-7.

The Thunder – who were in search of a sixth-straight win – had a great start to Tuesday’s contest as they jumped out to a quick 5-2 lead after one period before the Islanders pulled even after 40 minutes at seven goals apiece.

Langley briefly held the lead again in the first minute of the final period before playing catchup the rest of the way with Max Goller’s fourth of the game tying the score at 11 with 1:28 remaining in regulation.

Goller finished with four goals and one assist with Logan Claxton and Mason Eastgate each scoring twice and adding four and two assists, respectively. Dallas Kilpatrick had a pair of goals and Cole O’Callaghan scored once with Ryan Sheldrake chipping in three assists.

Arjun Gill made 42 saves in the Thunder goal as his team was outshot 54-37.

Hoegg had four goals and six points to lead the Islanders with Michael Burt (3-1), Logan Hinton (2-2) and Keelen Magcalas (0-4) each finishing with four points.

In the first game between them, Max Larsen led the attack with a hat trick and Eastgate chipping in a goal and four helpers. Sheldrake scored twice and Jameson Reed, Connyr Welch, Brayden Longacre and O’Callaghan each registering a goal and a helper.

Marcus Khan made 53 saves in the Thunder goal.

The Thunder have three games remaining in the regular season and are back in action on June 17 when they host the Maple Ridge Burrards at Langley Events Centre (7:30pm) in the team’s final regular season home game.

-30-