Thunder silenced by Burrards

by Gary Ahuja

Jesse Gillespie checks Maple Ridge's Trevor Funk during Western Lacrosse Association action at Cam Neely Arena on June 2. photo courtesy of Maple Ridge Burrards

Lacrosse is a game of runs and the Maple Ridge Burrards took full advantage of their uninterrupted scoring sprees to down the Langley Thunder.

The Burrards were able to string together a trio of scoring runs – totaling 11 goals – while the Langley Thunder never managed to score more than two consecutive goals as Maple Ridge handed Langley a 16-9 loss on Sunday night at Maple Ridge’s Cam Neely Arena in Senior A lacrosse action.

The Burrards scored three times in the opening 2:29 and were off and running in dropping the Thunder to 0-4 to start the Western Lacrosse Association season. Langley did strike back with a pair of quick tallies of their own, only to see Maple Ridge find the back of the net three more times for a multi-goal lead they did not relinquish.

The Burrards led 7-3 after 20 minutes and put the game out of reach with a 6-1 middle frame.

Kyle Brunsch and Nathan Lam led the Langley offence with a goal and three assists apiece while Tristan Kirkham scored twice. Clay Scanlan, Nathaniel Kozevnikov and Sekawnee Baker chipped in with a goal and a helper each while Jesse Gillespie and Curtis Goode both had a goal.

Aden Walsh (23 saves on 35 shots) and Kyle Mooney (10 saves on 14 shots) both saw time in the Thunder net. The Burrards’ Ryan Jones led his team with two goals and nine points while Rhys Porteous scored five goals and finished with seven points. Dylan McIntosh (3-5) and Marcus Klarich (2-5) also had big games for Maple Ridge.

The teams will complete their home-and-home series on June 5 at Langley Events Centre with a 7:30pm start time.

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