91Ô­´´ WLA Thunder led all the way in their latest win, a 15-11 victory over the Salmonbellies in New Westminster Thursday night, July 11.

That makes it five wins and a tie in their past seven games for 91Ô­´´.

The victory improved 91Ô­´´ to 6-6-1 and they sit second in a close playoff race which sees three points separate second place from fifth place. The Salmonbellies are in that fifth spot at 5-7.

The top four teams make the WLA post-season.

91Ô­´´ opened a 2-0 lead and never trailed against the Salmonbellies, leading 6-3 after a period and holding a multi-goal advantage from just past the midway point of the opening frame. The Thunder tacked on seven more goals in the middle stanza to go up 13-8. New Westminster did get the deficit down to three with just under 16 minutes to play but 91Ô­´´ allowed just one goal the rest of the way.

Robert Church – who earlier in the week was named by Lacrosse Canada to the final roster for the Men’s World Box Lacrosse Championship in September – led the way with five goals and eight points to earn the first star. Connor Robinson (3-3) and Clay Scanlan (3-1) both had hat tricks with Charles Scanlan (1-4) and Chase Scanlan (2-3) each finishing with five points. Nathan Lam had the other 91Ô­´´ goal and goaltender Aden Walsh made 51 saves on 62 shots.

For the season, Scanlan leads the team with 29 goals, 26 assists and 55 points.

91Ô­´´ also won the special teams battle, going 2-for-4 with the man advantage while killing off their only short-handed situation and even scoring while a man down.

Will Malcom’s two goals and seven points led New Westminster with Austin Ducommun adding a goal and four assists. Justin Geddie (15 saves on 26 shots) and Neil Tyacke (22 saves on 26 shots) split the goaltending duties for the Salmonbellies.

Thunder’s next home game is July 17 at 7 p.m. at 91Ô­´´ Events Centre against the Nanaimo Timbermen

READ ALSO: 91Ô­´´ Thunder strikes down Maple Ridge, 10-8, in WLA action

READ ALSO: Timbermen chop down WLA 91Ô­´´ Thunder at home