The Burnaby Lakers got back to playing more like a first-place senior A lacrosse team.
The Lakers put the worst of an 8-5 Thursday night loss to the New Westminster Salmonbellies behind them, and, although there were some anxious moments the following day, stole an 11-10 overtime victory from the visiting Coquitlam Adanacs to hang on to a share of top spot in the Western Lacrosse Asscociation.
The result kept Burnaby abreast of Victoria, 12-10 winners of the Salmonbellies on Friday, and Langley, 12-4 losers to the Adanacs on Saturday, atop the seven-team league, all with 12 points apiece.
Coquitlam moved into a fourth-place tie with New Westminster, both with 55-0 records, further crowding the WLA leaderboard.
On Thursday, Burnaby was stifled by a Salmonbellie-like defence of old.
But at home, Carlton Schuss had a breakout game for Burnaby, scoring his first four goals as a Laker, including the sparking marker in OT that ignited a three-goal-winning rally.
In a game full of momentum swings, Burnaby overcame a 3-1 firstperiod deficit with six consecutive goals against the Adanacs in the middle period, including the go-ahead goal by second overall draft pick Jackson Decker and Schuss's hat-trick tally.
But Coquitlam tied it up, coming back with four unanswered goals in the final 20 minutes to send the contest to extra time.
In OT, Coquitlam looked as if they might come away with the win, when Daryl Veltman and Kevin Olson of Burnaby scored backto-back goals 15 seconds apart, giving the A's a twogoal advantage.
But Schuss and Chase Williams scored to knot the score before rookie transition Justin Salt, on an assist from Mike Brascia, got the game-winner in the final minute of play.
Joe Bell got the win in goal for Burnaby after facing 50 Adanacs' shots.
Scott Jones also posted a four-point night for Burnaby.
In New West, Burnaby gave up two shorthanded markers to the home Salmonbellies' Iljia Gajic, including the team's leaguehigh 12th this season.
Burnaby game star Colton Clark came back off injury with a hat trick in a four-point outing, including a pair of second-period counters that momentarily tied the contest at 4-4. But the Laker offence had little else to cheer about against the solid backstopping from Tyler Richards in the New West net.
"If we deny the other team the middle and let Tyler (Richards) see the shooting lanes, he's going to stop 99 per cent of the shots," said New West defender Wade Dewolff.
"When we got to 4-4, it should have given us a lift and it didn't," said Burnaby head coach Bob Johnston. "The team was very quiet tonight - quiet on the bench and quiet on the floor - we just didn't get a spark to get us level in the game."
That spark will be needed as the Lakers host the 6-2-0 Victoria Shamrocks at home on Friday night, before enjoying time off over the upcoming Canada Day week. Game time is 7: 45 p.m.
WESTERN LACROSSE ASSOCIATION
Standings
W L T GF GA Pt
Victoria 6 2 0 94 68 12
Langley 6 4 0 96 94 12
Burnaby 5 4 2 95 101 12
Coquitlam 5 5 0 77 68 10
New West 5 5 0 97 95 10
Nanaimo 4 3 1 82 82 9
Maple Ridge 1 9 1 85 118 3
