“Muffler” Mike Kostiuk – All Lacrosse All The Time, a Division of the Edge of Philly Sports Network
The Nanaimo Timbermen defeated the Coquitlam Adanacs 11-8 in overtime in Game 3 of their WLA semifinal series from the Coquitlam Sports Centre in Coquitlam, BC on Wednesday night. Nanaimo now leads the best-of-seven series 3-0 and can advance to the WLA finals with one more win.
Another barnburner on tap
The first period saw 27 shots (Coquitlam 15, Nanaimo 12), but only one reached the back of a net. Riley Loewen (7:37) gave the Adanacs a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. Reid Bowering would score a minute into the second period to make it 2-0. The Timbermen then equalized, with goals from Teioshontateh McComber (1:19) and Zach Manns (2:03).
Clark Walter would give the Adanacs the lead again, his power-play goal (3:28) starting a three-goal run for Coquitlam. Bowering would tally his second of the game at 7:23, followed by Levi Anderson unassisted at 8:12. Nanaimo countered with a five-goal run of their own. Jon Phillips (9:50), McComber’s second (12:37), and Manns’ second (14:29) made it 5-5 at the second intermission.
Timbermen train keeps on rolling
The Nanaimo run continued with Hiana (Jerome) Thompson (5:44) and McComber’s hat-trick goal giving the Timbermen a 7-5 lead halfway through the third period. Bowering (11:35) tallied his own hat trick, but Jerrett Smith (14:06) responded to maintain the Timbermen’s two-goal lead. Desperately needing to get back into the series, the Adanacs pulled goalie Christian Del Bianco for an extra attacker late in the game. It paid off, with Adam Dickson (18:22) cutting the lead to one before Walter’s second of the night (19:58) tied the game with two seconds remaining in regulation.
A ten-minute overtime period was played, with subsequent “sudden victory” periods to be played if the score remained tied. Unfortunately for Coquitlam, the Timbermen took control in overtime and never looked back. Taggart Clark gave Nanaimo the lead for good just 30 seconds into the extra frame. Ethan Ticehurst (9:45) and Nate Wade (9:52) would add empty-net goals, while Coquitlam was held to just 3 shots total in the overtime period . The series now returns to Frank Crane Arena Friday night for Game 4, where the Timbermen can complete the sweep.
Three Stars of the Game
1st Star: Devlin Shanahan (Nanaimo): 44 saves; 0.846 sv %
2nd Star: Christian Del Bianco (Coquitlam): 47 saves; 0.833 sv %
3rd Star: Teioshontateh McComber (Nanaimo): 3g, 1a
Other Stats of Note
Shots: Nanaimo 56; Coquitlam 52
Reid Bowering (Coquitlam): 3g
Clark Walter (Coquitlam): 2g, 1a
Zach Manns (Nanaimo): 2g, 4a
Colton Lidstone (Nanaimo): 5a
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“Muffler” Mike Kostiuk was formally introduced to box lacrosse when he attended a New England Black Wolves game on a whim in 2016. Instantly hooked, he has since become an avid follower of the National Lacrosse League. Following the postponement of the 2019-2020 NLL season, he was offered the chance to share his wealth of statistical knowledge and unique insights with the lacrosse community at large. He cheerfully accepted, and currently serves as Edge of Philly’s correspondent for both the Albany FireWolves and New York Riptide.
