Home Floor Advantage

Submitted by League Reporter, Jen Mutas

Photos supplied by Paul Sparrow

So far in the BCJALL finals it's been quite clear the two teams participating have deserved their spots. Coquitlam has proved their regular season record was no fluke, and New West has demonstrated it doesn't matter where you finished in the regular season; its how you perform in the post season that really counts. Neither team has had much wiggle room as far as comfort is concerned, with both squads breathing down each others neck with one common goal in mind- making for some awesome lacrosse!

Both teams have taken some serious blows to their lineups these days; tonight Coquitlam was playing without one of their solid offensive guns Corbyn Tao, who took the warm up tonight but didn't end up taking the floor. I'm assuming Tao is sitting out to nurse his eye that was split wide open on Sunday night in game three after fighting Rob Danikiewicz. Hardest hit in the lineup tonight was New West, who in game four was out the following players: Curtis Dickson, TJ Cowx, Kyle Robinson, and Eric Lewthwaite. One would assume a detriment to their roster such as this would impair the 'Bellies and jeopardize their chances of evening up the series again, but New West would step up and fight through it- resulting in a sweet reward for their hard work.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="723"] Adanacs player Kevin Neufeld takes a double high hit from Salmonbellies' player Brett Mydske and Ben Davis (near side).[/caption]

In the end the six goals scored by New West in the third period would be enough for the 10-6 final win to even up the series yet again. Game five will be a quick turn around as they play Wednesday night in Coquitlam, as the Adanacs hope their home floor provides them with the luck Queens Park did tonight. Most of the missing players will most likely be game time decisions, but these two teams have proven they can scrap it out just the same with or without their key players on the floor. With guys like New West's McQuade having a hand in five of his team's ten goals tonight to bring his point total to twenty points in four games, and on the other end Trevor Moore, who with his one goal and four helpers had points in five of the A's six scoring plays. Up until the third period this was a goalie showcase for both teams, as both Tyacke and Seidel were playing and stopping the ball with complete confidence.

"Seidel unfortunately let the final couple of goals get to him and even with a quick goalie swich buying some time to take a breather halfway through the period, it wasn't enough. Tyacke remained focused and on his game for the full sixty minutes and looked like his old self from the Victoria and New West series’, something that will surely get him the starting position for game five.