A second-period meltdown cost the Burnaby Lakers second place in the final Western Lacrosse Association season.
Hot after a 14-6 victory over the regular season champion Langley Thunder at home on Friday that clinched third place for Burnaby, the Lakers lost their final game of the season 13-12 to the Coquiltam Adanacs on Saturday.
All appeared to be going right for Burnaby following a 7-2 first-period lead against the A's. But Coquitlam went on a pair of four-goal runs in the middle period to outscore the Lakers 10-2 in the period and take a 12-9 lead into the third.
Burnaby outscored Coquitlam 3-1 in the final frame, but it wasn't enough.
The senior A Lakers will meet the runner-up Victoria Shamrocks in the first round of WLA playoffs, beginning today (Wednesday).
At home, first star Robert Church got Burnaby out to an early 2-0 lead with a pair of goals before Langley wrestled the lead away, heading to the first intermission with a 4-3 lead.
But in the second period, it was all Burnaby, with Scott Jones reclaiming the advantage for the Lakers with two early counters in an 8-0 splurge.
Five of the goals in the second period came on the power play, as Burnaby capitalized on the extra man on seven of nine opportunities.
Dane Stevens led all scorers with a seven-point outing in both of Burnaby's last two league games. Stevens finished fourth in overall league scoring with 26 goals and 81 total points.
Jones was right behind in sixth place with 65 points, including a teambest 27 goals.
Casey Jackson earned a second-star nod against Langley with three goals and two assists.
Although Burnaby took the three-game season series against Victoria this season, earning second place would have given the Lakers a further advantage over the Shamrocks, said transition runner Pete McFetridge.
"Any advantage we have would give us an edge. Bear Mountain is a tough place to play," said McFetridge.
"Anyone on their offensive line can put the ball in the net - they can shoot, pass and are very effective in the offensive end. We need to play our best defence and stay out of the penalty box because they have a very good power play."
Burnaby opens its bestof-seven playoff series tonight (Wednesday) in Victoria. The playoff resumes next Wednesday, Aug. 7 at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre.
