Early deficit too much to overcome as Thunder drop first home game

Kordell Primus and the Langley Thunder were on the losing end of an 11-6 score in Western Lacrosse Association action at Langley Events Centre on June 11. Ryan Molag photo

An inconsistent effort – especially at the offensive end – spelled trouble for the Langley Thunder on Wednesday night.

Langley managed to score consecutive goals just once as the Senior A lacrosse team fell 11-6 to the visiting Coquitlam Adanacs in Western Lacrosse Association action at Langley Events Centre.

The Adanacs led from start to finish in the game and made it back-to-back wins over the Thunder as the two teams also played Saturday night in Coquitlam with the home side winning that contest by an 11-3 score.  The two-game sweep helped Coquitlam (3-2-1) leapfrog Langley (3-3) in the WLA standings. The Thunder were 3-0 at home entering the game.

“I thought our offence wasn’t our best today. We were flatfooted and not moving the ball much and setting for chances that just aren’t there. When you are facing a good defence and a good goalie, that is tough. You need to create better opportunities and that is what we lacked today,” said Langley coach Ian Poole.

The teams traded goals to open the game before Coquitlam put together a 5-0 run over a nine-minute ran spanning the first and second periods. The Thunder would manage to pull back within a pair, but the Adanacs struck for goals 28 seconds apart to quell any sort of comeback effort.

Toru Morimatsu led the Langley attack with a hat trick and four points and was the game’s second star. Entering this season, he had a combined three goals and eight points in four career WLA games.

“I just try and play like its my last game, like I am playing for my (roster) spot,” Morimatsu said, adding it felt nice to score against Christian Del Bianco, widely considered one of the best box lacrosse goalies in the world.

“It is all about confidence. He’s stepping in with new guys and a new team. He can play; he just has to keep believing in himself,” Poole said of Morimatsu who finished with a team-best 10 shots on goal.

Jon Phillips added a goal and two assists with Nathan Lam and Hudson Chivers each scoring once. Kordell Primus finished with three helpers and Caleb Khan made 41 saves on 51 shots.

Kean Moon, Brian Simmons and Clark Walter had two goals apiece for the Adanacs with Moon adding four assists while Del Bianco finished with 36 saves.

The Thunder’s next game sees them hit the road in Nanaimo on Saturday (June 14) against the Timbermen. The team’s next home game at Langley Events Centre is June 18 at 7:30pm when they host the Maple Ridge Burrards. Click here for tickets.

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