Third-period struggles ground Thunder for second straight game

Tate Silvester (#14) and the Langley Thunder saw their record fall to 2-4 in BC Junior Tier 1 Lacrosse League action following a 17-10 loss to the visiting Coquitlam Adanacs on May 21 at Langley Events Centre. Gary Ahuja photo

For the second straight game, a subpar third period was the undoing for the Langley Thunder.

On Saturday (May 18) in New Westminster, the Tier 1 lacrosse team was ahead 7-4 with 20 minutes to play, before losing 11-9. And on Tuesday (May 21) back at home at Langley Events Centre, the Thunder trailed 8-6 entering the final frame but by the time the final whistle went, it was 17-10 for the Coquitlam Adanacs.

The two defeats push Langley’s losing streak to three games and sees their record fall to 2-4 in the BC Junior Tier 1 Lacrosse League.

“Same thing happened on Saturday night. We gave up seven goals that period and we gave up nine this period,” said Thunder coach Darren Buchan.

“The offence was able to generate more in the third period (today) than they did in the first two periods, so I was proud of that group; they worked really hard.

“But the defence is just not there. They are big, they are physical, they are strong, they are fast. It’s a mental game where they just can’t seem to put it together.”

Langley held a pair of early one-goal leads but trailed 4-3 after a period. They did battle back to knot the score at 6 midway through the game. The Adanacs would strike for a pair of goals ahead of intermission and then dominated the final frame.

Mac Timms led the offence with four goals and six points while Brayden Longacre (2-4) and Connyr Welch (2-2) each scored twice. Jameson Reed (1-3) and Xavian Washington (1-1) rounded out the scoring.

In goal, Jackson Hastings finished with 44 saves as his team was outshot 61-27.

Alex Tan (3-5) and Owen Eckert (3-3) led the Adanacs with a hat trick apiece.

Against New Westminster on May 18, Timms (2-4), Reed (2-2) and Longacre (2-1) each scored two goals in the defeat while Caleb Khan made 58 saves (.841 save percentage) as his team was outshot 69-44.

It was one of two losses for Langley last week as they also fell 14-8 on May 16 in Port Coquitlam to the Saints. The teams were tied at four following 20 minutes, but the Saints used a 6-1 second period to take control. Timms led the Thunder with a hat trick and five points while Welch scored twice and had one assist. Longacre (0-4) and Reed (1-3) both had four-point games.

Langley is back in action on May 24 with a road contest in Maple Ridge against the Burrards. It is one of two games this weekend as they also travel to Burnaby on May 26 to play the Lakers.

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