Roadrunners rally, defeat Thunder 13-7

Brock Lamotte gets a step on his Richmond defender during BC Junior Tier 1 Lacrosse League action at Langley Events Centre on May 30. Gary Ahuja LEC photo

Another shoddy second period cost the Langley Thunder.

Ahead 4-2 following the first period, the Tier 1 junior lacrosse team allowed eight goals in the middle frame, falling 13-7 to the previously winless Richmond Roadrunners. The Roadrunners (1-6-1, 3 points) sit just a point back of Langley (2-9-0, 4 points) with games in hand in the BC Junior Tier 1 Lacrosse League standings.

The Thunder had a solid opening 20 minutes as they scored three times on the man advantage for a 4-2 lead, but the second period was all Richmond as the Roadrunners scored five unanswered and led 10-6 through 40 minutes.

“It is so hard to figure out this team: we allowed three goals in the third period; we allowed two goals in the first period. And then the second period happens,” said Langley coach Darren Buchan. “Lacrosse is a game of runs, but if we don’t get on a run, it just runs away.”

It is a familiar trend for Langley which has been badly outscored in their last three middle periods, while playing relatively well in the first and third periods, respectively.

“We just said let’s get back to what we want to do, and we played a much better third period on the defensive side,” Buchan said about the message during the second intermission. “(But) the offensive side, we are just not there yet. You can’t score six goals in a junior lacrosse game and expect to win.”

Kai Sephton led the Thunder in the defeat with a pair of goals and five points while Talon Schroeder had two goals and four points. Vaughn Pinchin (1+2) and Kade Leifsson (1+0) had a goal apiece. Todd Hensrud finished with 35 saves as the Thunder were outshot 48-45.

Langley is back in action on Friday (June 2) when they visit Queen’s Park Arena to battle the New Westminster Salmonbellies.

While the Tier 1 Thunder prepare for that game, Langley’s Junior A squad was in New Westminster on Tuesday night in BC Junior A Lacrosse League action.

Junior A recap

The Thunder’s next opponent will be the Coquitlam Adanacs on Thursday, June 1 at 7:00pm at Langley Events Centre.

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