Third period surge sends Thunder to victory

Langley Thunder goaltender Aden Walsh stares down a Coquitlam shooter during the Thunder's 11-8 victory over the Adanacs at the Poirier Sports Complex on Tuesday night in Western Lacrosse Association action. Ryan Molag photo

The Langley Thunder offence awoke in the third period, tallying five goals as the team rallied to victory on Tuesday night.

Facing the host Coquitlam Adanacs at the Poirier Sports Complex, the Thunder trailed 5-4 after a period and 7-6 through 40 minutes before breaking through for a huge third period to post an 11-8 win, improving to 12-3 in the process. Coquitlam fell to 1-14 as the teams are at the opposite ends of the Western Lacrosse Association standings with three games remaining in the regular season.

Langley was coming off back-to-back overtime games -- a road victory and home loss -- and for the first 46 minutes, it looked like the team was potentially heading for a third-straight game that would stretch beyond 60 minutes. Trailing 7-6, Holden Garlent pulled Langley even and 42 seconds later, Chase Scanlan gave the lead for good. Curtis Dickson would tack on an insurance marker with Scanlan scoring twice more. Coquitlam's Chase McIntyre had the lone Adanacs goal in that final frame.

The Thunder had jumped ahead 3-1 9:23 into the game with goals from Robert Church, Scanlan and Jake Boudreau before the Adanacs finished the period with four of the next five goals. Nathaniel Kozevnikov had the Langley goal to break up the Coquitlam run.

Each team scored twice in the middle frame with Dickson and Church both finding the back of the net.

Dickson was the first star with his two goal, five-point performance while Scanlan was the second star thanks to a four-goal outing. Kozevnikov (1+2), Church (2+1), and Garlent (1+2) each had three-point games while Tristan Kirkham, Clay Scanlan and Reece Callies finished with two assists apiece.

Goaltender Aden Walsh delivered a 42-save performance (.840 save performance) as the Thunder were outshot 50-48.

Matt Delmonico led Coquitlam with six assists and was the game's third star. Former Thunder player Keegan Bell finished with two goals and two assists while Adam Noakes and McIntyre each had a pair of goals and an assist. Andrew Gallant finished with 37 saves in the Adanac goal.

The Thunder are right back in action on Wednesday (July 19) as they host the Maple Ridge Burrards at Langley Events Centre. Game time is 7:30pm.

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