After an 0-3 start in the Western Lacrosse Association, who would have thunk it?
But the Burnaby Lakers are now sitting comfortably at .500 following a 1211 win in Nanaimo against the last-place Timbermen on Sunday.
The win catapulted the Lakers into fourth place.
Last week, Burnaby got itself into the win column and quickly back in the mix in the seven-team loop with two gritty wins over arguably the two teams to beat in senior A lacrosse.
The Lakers started it off last week with a 9-8 win in Langley over the defending playoff champion Thunder.
Burnaby then impressed their fan faithful with an equally decisive 12-11 victory over the visiting and former No. 1 nationally ranked Victoria Shamrocks last Friday.
"We're out of the basement now, and as a team we're right back in the hunt," said Burnaby's first star Dane Stevens, who led all scorers with three goals and five assists.
"It was a big win for us. Everyone's got a couple of losses. It was a good effort from the guys."
With just three game stars to hand out, two of Burnaby's best were left off the list.
Laker backup Joe Bell had a great first win in goal, stopping 46 Shamrock shots including 17 of 19 in a pivotal third period.
"I had to hang on," said Bell after the game. "We played so well. We really needed that game." Bell, who was goalie of the year with Langley in 2009, was nothing short of sensational in the latter half of the final period.
The veteran keeper made the first of many big saves, stopping Victoria sniper Rhys Duch on the doorstep.
With five minutes left, Bell again foiled Duch point-blank, and then, down and out in the crease, somehow got his arms in the way of a shot by Karsen Leung in close off the ensuing rebound.
But the biggest and most timely stop came in the final moments with a sprawling save off Ontario sniper Corey Small with Burnaby holding a slim one-goal lead.
"We worked hard for (the win)," said Bell. "Now we have to be up for everybody. You can't take anyone lightly."
Scott Jones, who was the hero of Burnaby's earlier win over Langley with four goals, had another big night at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre, potting a hat trick in a seven-point effort, including the game-winning tally from Stevens and second star Colton Clark at 17.29.
Rookie Tyler Digby counted his first WLA goal with the Lakers, putting Burnaby ahead 3-2 at 13: 08 of the first period.
Burnaby helped its cause by scoring the first goal in each of the three periods.
Stevens opened the game in the second minute of play. Casey Jackson started off the middle frame with Burnaby's 44 goal on a power play, before Shaun Dhaliwal got the Lakers off on the right foot in the final period, sparking a three-goal surge that put the home team into the lead for good.
"We had a full lineup. Everyone was doing what we're practising. We're young, but everyone's getting better," said Stevens. "Everyone knows what we're trying to do."
Few in attendance Friday may have thought trading goals with Victoria was a recipe for success.
But it proved to the players on the Burnaby bench that they have the firepower and the frame of mind that it takes to win in this league.
In Nanaimo, Jones continued his torrid scoring pace with four goals.
Jackson led all scorers with a goal and five helpers. Stevens got the game-winner for a second consecutive night, scoring at 16: 08 from Digby.
Dan Lewis got the win in goal.
With the league suddenly tightening up, with New Westminster's 10-8 upset over Maple Ridge last Thursday and Coquitlam's turn-around win over the same 'Bellies on Saturday, it's anybody's league to take.
"It's exciting and it's good to see for the league and it's good for the fans," Bell added.
This Thursday, Burnaby is at Queen's Park to visit New Westminster in another intriguing matchup. New West looked great in last Thursday's win over Maple Ridge, particularly on the short man.
But similar to last season, the Salmonbellies are missing something when on the road and are 1-3 away from home. Game time is 7: 45 p.m.
The Lakers will also finish up their regular season series with Nanaimo at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre on Friday.
That series is currently tied at one game apiece. Faceoff is at 7 p.m.
