Adanacs Lead 2-1

The Coquitlam Adanacs and New Westminster Salmonbellies faced off at Queen's Park for game 3 of the British Columbia Junior A Lacrosse League Finals on Saturday evening. The Adanacs were looking to carry over their momentum from game 2 and the 'Bellies looked to go 2-0 at home in the series.

Game 3 started off with some pushing and shoving between Adanacs' Wesley Berg and Salmonbellies' Javier Tudela. With both of them in the box for roughing, it was the 'Bellies who took advantage of the open space. Josh Byrne scored at 1:04 and then Anthony Malcom scored 29 seconds later to give the 'Bellies a quick 2-0 lead.

The pushing and shoving commenced between Salmonbellies' Steven Ferdinandi and Adanacs' Michael Messenger seconds after the goal. It only took a minute for Messenger to head right back to the box for slashing and Brett Dobray made him pay when he scored on the power play to make it 3-0.

The 'Bellies continued to enjoy the open space that comes with 4-on-4 as Adanacs' Conner Stroup and Salmonbellies' Justin Goodwin each received a slashing penalty and Johnny Pearson put it past goaltender Pete Dubenski, who got the pull after as Riley Camazzola took over.

To no surprise, the goalie change fired up the Adanacs. Challen Rogers took a shot from half that fooled goaltender Ross Bowman as the ball just bounced over him and into the net at 10:21. Tyler Pace made it 4-2 over a minute later and then the Adanacs power play went to work as Eli McLaughlin scored at 13:25.

The Adanacs were right back on the power play just over 30 seconds later and it was McLaughlin again who scored on the power play to even the score.

Salmonbellies' Johnny Pearson took advantage of a gloveless Adanacs' defender by slashing him a few times, but the referee wasn't going to take it as Pearson took a seat in the box. Nothing came of it, but the referee decided on a makeup call as Adanacs' Taylor Stuart received a slashing penalty shortly after Pearson's penalty had expired. The 'Bellies didn't offer much offence as Camazzola only had to make one save since taking over as both teams headed to the locker room all tied up.

Dubenski was back in goal to start the second period for the Adanacs. The Adanacs got their first lead of the game when Jordan Gilles scored at 3:31 and then Berg's shot trickled in past Bowman at 7:50. Bowman got the pull for a quick chat, but was back in goal shortly after.

After the goals, the first half of the second period consisted of penalty after penalty, which ruined the intensity and flow of the game. Salmonbellies' Pearson scored his second of the game at 10:16 to cut the Adanacs lead to 1. The latter half of the second period was full of scoring chances and back and forth action, but the score stayed at 6-5 to begin the third period.

It didn't take long for the 'Bellies to tie the game as Quinn Mackay scored 53 seconds in, but it was all Adanacs going forward. Evan Wortley, McLaughlin and Chase McIntyre each scored before the six-minute mark to give the Adanacs a 9-6 lead. Eric Penney finished the rest of the game in goal for the Salmonbellies.

Berg and Pace added a goal each with Pearson scoring one on the power play, but the Adanacs proved to be too much for the 'Bellies as they take game 3 11-7.

Three stars of the game
1. Coquitlam - Eli McLaughlin - 2 goals, 5 assists
2. Coquitlam - Wesley Berg - 2 goals, 3 assists
3. Coquitlam - Tyler Pace - 3 goals, 1 assist

The Salmonbellies will look to even the series when they head to the Coquitlam Sports Centre on Monday, July 28th at 7:30PM.