Salmonbellies clinch second by holding off Thunder
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Updated: July 24, 2009 8:59 AM
The New Westminster Salmonbellies clinched at second place and home-floor advantage in the Western Lacrosse Association semifinals by edging the hometown Langley Thunder 9-8 Wednesday.
The ’Bellies won despite being outshot 44-35 by the Thunder and taking 65 minutes in penalties to Langley’s 46.
The Thunder went into the game with a chance to catch the Salmonbellies. But the win gave New West a 12-3-2 record and 26 points, five more than Langley (9-6-1) who have just two games left.
The victory also vaulted the Salmonbellies into first place, at least temporarily. The Victoria Shamrocks (12-3-0) headed into Friday night’s game against the last-place Burnaby Lakers (2-13-1) having played two fewer games than New West. The Shamrocks also hold the tiebreaker advantage because they won two of the three encounters between the teams. The ’Bellies finish the regular season by battling Burnaby at Queen’s Park Arena on Thursday, 7:45 p.m.
In Langley, Cliff Smith scored three times and assisted on another while Scott Stewart had a goal and four assists to give him 24 points, including 13 goals, in his last five games.
Jordan McBride had two goals and an assist while Jamie Floris and Ilija Gajic had one of each. Rookie Sean Robinson also scored for New West.
sports@newwestnewsleader.com
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