Shawn Slaght, All Lacrosse All The Time – A Division of Edge of Philly Sports Network
The Coquitlam Adanacs would move to 2-0 in the Western Lacrosse Association after defeating the Nanaimo Timbermen 9-5 Tuesday night at the Coquitlam Sports Centre.
For a low-scoring game, there were plenty of scoring opportunities. However, it was a goaltender’s duel. Christian Del Bianco was solid for the Adanacs, stopping 56 of 61 shots for the win. Meanwhile, at the other end of the floor, Charles Claxton stopped 30 of 38 shots in the loss.
John Hofseth once again had a huge night with a hat trick and five points, while Vinny Ricci finished the game for Coquitlam with four goals.
Tight first period
Neither team gave an inch in the first period. Alberta product Ethan Forgrave opened the scoring at 6:10 for the Timbermen. Hofseth replied 35 seconds later to tie up the game.
Adam Wiedeman scored at 9:30 on a solo effort to make it 2-1 in favour of Nanaimo. The Timbermen had a golden opportunity to take extend the lead when Hofseth took a roughing penalty late in the period. Unable to capitalize, Aiden Guld would score shorthanded at 18:24.
At the end of the first quarter, we were all tied up 2-2.
Coquitlam pulls away in the second quarter
It only took 48 seconds into the second quarter when Nanaimo’s David Byrne took a holding penalty. Ricci would make them pay with a power-play marker at 2:37.
Ricci would add an even-strength goal at 7:06 to extend Coquitlam’s lead to 4-2.
Forgrave would reply at the 11:18 mark of the second on the power play to narrow the Adanacs’ lead. Hofseth would score 29 seconds later and Ricci would add another for good measure at 15:03.
The Adanacs would hold a 6-3 lead after the second period after outscoring their opponents 4-1 during the second frame.
Nanaimo’s comeback falls short
Both offences fell silent in the third period as both teams were held off the scoresheet for over 10 minutes. Jon Phillips would break the stalemate at 10:01 to get the Timbermen back within two goals.
Nanaimo found themselves in penalty trouble again a Ricci scored another power play goal at 11:30. Hofseth added to the damage at 15:45 to give the Adanacs an 8-4 advantage.
Evan Messenger would score at 16:40 to make it 8-5, as the Timbermen would pull their goaltender in the hopes of finding three more goals. Unfortunately for them, Guld would find the empty net at 17:22 to put the game away as the Adanacs would move to 2-0.
Three Stars
- Vinny Ricci, Adanacs
- Christian Del Bianco, Adanacs
- Aiden Guld, Adanacs
Top Scorers
Coquitlam Adanacs
John Hofseth, 3g 2a
Vinny Ricci, 4g
Nanaimo Timbermen
Ethan Forgrave, 2g
Adam Wiederman, 1g 1a
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