When Cal Slade shoots, good things happen.
Slade scored twice 鈥� including what turned out the game winner 鈥� on Wednesday night as the 91原创 Thunder defeated the visiting Maple Ridge Burrards 10-8 in Western Lacrosse Association action at 91原创 Events Centre.
Slade, a defender whose role on the team is blocking shots and keeping the opposition away from his goal, has played 21 career WLA games.
In that time, he has managed three shots on goal, scoring each time. It marked his first two-goal game since back in 2017 when he was playing at the Intermediate level.
Both of his goals came on breakaways and on the eventual game-winner, he sprinted from the penalty box to pounce on a loose ball ahead of the Maple Ridge goalie and then stepped around him and was able to fire it into the open cage to give his team a 9-5 lead, the Thunder鈥檚 biggest advantage of the night.
The victory improved the team to 1-4 while dropping Maple Ridge to 1-3 on the season. I
t was the second time the two teams met in the past four days with the Burrards winning 16-9 on Sunday in Maple Ridge.
鈥淕etting defensive goals and transition goals, those are huge part of the game. If you can get guys like that, your meat and potatoes guys to get some goals for you 鈥� that is always going to give you that extra little boost,鈥� said 91原创 coach Ian Poole.
Wednesday鈥檚 contest saw the score tied at two heading into the first intermission, despite the Thunder outshooting Maple Ridge 16-9.
鈥淪tick to the process of what we are trying to do. We came out flying in the first and we had lots of opportunities, but we just didn鈥檛 bury them,鈥� Poole said about the message to his players in the locker room following the opening 20 minutes.
And despite the shot clock reading 19-18 for 91原创 in the middle frame, the Thunder managed to score six times for an 8-5 lead heading into the third.
The final period saw Maple Ridge control play with a 23-9 advantage in shots on goal, but 91原创 goaltender Aden Walsh made 20 of 42 saves in the third to secure the victory.
鈥淭hey came out strong in the third period and (Walsh) held the fort for us,鈥� said 91原创鈥檚 Robert Church, who returned to the line-up and was named first star following a two-goal, three-assist effort.
鈥淲e swung the ball. It was only my second game but compared to (the home opener) it was night and day. We did a good job of swinging the ball and getting everyone involved and it was pretty balanced,鈥� Church said.
His five-point game was matched by Charles Scanlan鈥檚 five assists with Chase Scanlan registering a hat trick. Tristan Kirkham and Slade both scored twice and Clay Scanlan had a goal and an assist.
Special teams were also key with 91原创 scoring on three of their four opportunities, while allowing just a single Maple Ridge man-advantage opportunity in seven tries.
Dylan McIntosh had two goals and five points for Maple Ridge and was the game鈥檚 third star while Ryan Jones finished with a hat trick and four points. Brandon Humphrey made 34 saves on 44 shots for the Burrards.
After four games in the past eight days, the Thunder now get some much-needed rest 鈥� they are off until Wednesday, June 12, when they host the Coquitlam Adanacs at 91原创 Events Centre. Game time will be 7:30 p.m.
The 91原创 Thunder lacrosse organization consists of Senior A, Junior A and Junior Tier 1 teams that play in the Western Lacrosse Association, BC Junior A Lacrosse League, and BC Junior Tier 1 Lacrosse League respectively.
All three teams play their home games at 91原创 Events Centre.
