Second-period struggles cost Thunder for second straight game

Talon Schroeder scored five times but it was not enough as the Langley Thunder lost 17-8 to the visiting Victoria Shamrocks on Sunday afternoon at Langley Events Centre in BC Junior Tier 1 Lacrosse League action. Gary Ahuja LEC photo

As has been the case for much of the season, consistency once again cost the Langley Thunder.

The Tier 1 lacrosse team had a solid opening 20 minutes – they were down just 5-3 against the first-place Victoria Shamrocks – but things fell apart in that middle stanza as the Thunder surrendered nine goals, losing 17-8.

The teams were playing on Sunday afternoon at Langley Events Centre in BC Junior Tier 1 Lacrosse League action with Victoria now sitting at a perfect 10-0 while the Thunder fell to 2-8.

It was the second loss of the weekend for Langley as they also fell 14-10 to the host Maple Ridge Burrards at Cam Neely Arena on Friday night.

“We are struggling with consistency. We have a good period on Friday night and we are up and then we have a really tough period in the second. Today, we played the first period fairly well against a really good team and then we just struggled with our consistency,” said Langley coach Darren Buchan.

The Thunder led 6-3 after a period against the Burrards before Maple Ridge turned the tables in the second, sending the teams to the locker room tied at nine with a period to play. Unfortunately, it would be the Burrards scoring five of the final six goals.

On Sunday, the Shamrocks outscored Langley 9-1 over the middle frame to put the game out of reach.

“We are a young team trying to find their way. We had a decent first – we actually won the third – but we gave up nine in the second. It is just hard to find that consistency,” Buchan said.

With a young roster consisting primarily of first and second-year players, Buchan said the lessons learned now will pay dividends down the road.

“That is the beauty of the five-year program: when you are this young, you have to learn. We asked them at the end of the second period not to quit. They worked hard and only gave up three goals in the third period,” he said.

One bright spot in Sunday’s game was the play of Talon Schroeder who scored five goals in the defeat, matching his entire goal output over the first seven games.

“He crashed. He put his body on the line and got to the dirty areas and that is where you are going to score; you are not going to score on junior goalies from outside. We knew he was talented; we knew he was going to break out; I am glad it was today,” the coach said.

While Schroeder scored five times, Vaughn Pinchin had the other three goals as well as three assists for the six-point game. Pinchin leads the Thunder with 17 goals and 32 points in 10 games.

The eight goals allowed by Victoria was also a season-high for the Shamrocks, who entered the contest surrendering an average of 4.56 goals per game.

Todd Hensrud made 53 saves as Langley was outshot 70-37. Against Maple Ridge, both Charlie Lort (17 saves) and Tenzin Fernandez (6 saves) saw action. Pinchin and Schroeder both had a goal and an assist against Maple Ridge while Carson Smith scored twice and set up one other. Brock Lamotte, Logan Kierstead, Logan Heales, Declan Fines and Finn Harapiak had a goal apiece and Connyr Welsch finished with four helpers.

Next up for the Thunder is a home game on Tuesday, May 30 (7:30pm) as the Richmond Roadrunners visit Langley Events Centre.

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