Thunder come out hot, hang on for crucial victory

Langley's Owen Van Ryn (#88) celebrates his first-period goal during his team's 9-8 win in BC Junior Tier 1 Lacrosse League action at Langley Events Centre on May 27. Ryan Molag photo

A dominant first period was the difference on Tuesday night.

Locked in a one-goal game, the Langley Junior Tier 1 Thunder scored four times in 94 seconds to take a 6-1 lead. And that cushion proved crucial as the team hung on for a 9-8 win over the visiting New Westminster Salmonbellies.

With the win, Langley improved to 8-3 in the BC Junior Tier 1 Lacrosse League standings while New Westminster – which edged the T1 Thunder 12-11 last week – sit at 6-3-1.

“That is a big accomplishment, especially for a young offence,” said Langley coach Connar Abrams, referencing the fact they scored six times on just 15 shots in the opening period. “The boys came out on fire.”

“But for the other two periods, we can’t just fall off like we did.”

The fall-off has to do with the fact New Westminster cut the lead to 8-5 after 40 minutes and had a shot at the tying goal in the dying seconds, only to see Thunder goalie Marcus Khan come up with one final save at the buzzer.

Khan finished with 52 saves as Langley was outshot 60-45. He leads the BCJT1LL with 370 total saves and six wins. He also sits in fourth in both goals against (6.44) and save percentage (.871).

Langley captain Lukas Miller admitted it wasn’t his team’s prettiest performance, but they persevered.

“There were periods of the game where we got down, but we pushed through it and finished out with a win, and that’s the most important thing,” he said.

Mason Eastgate led the offence with a hat trick and one assist while Owen Van Ryn scored twice – including what turned out to be the winner on a beautiful goal in transition late in the third – to go along with a pair of helpers. Ryan Sheldrake (1-3) also matched his teammates with a four-point effort. Jameson Reed with a pair and Madden Bakatsis completed the scoring with Logan Claxton finishing with a pair of helpers.

Graham Farstad led the ‘Bellies with a pair of goals.

Next up for Langley is a road game in Nanaimo on May 31.

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