The Burnaby Lakers pulled off a major upset in the Western Lacrosse Association last week.
The unheralded senior A Lakers knocked off the No. 1-ranked team in the country, beating the New Westminster Salmonbellies 9-8 at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre on Friday.
The Lakers' win left Burnaby in sole possession of fifth place in a tightly contested league that will likely go down to the final week to sort out final playoff positioning for all but the league-leading Salmonbellies.
Just the day before, Burnaby fell behind the 'Bellies 7-1 at Queen's Park Arena before pulling up their socks in the final period in an 8-4 loss to New Westminster.
The Lakers got off to another slow start at home, falling behind 2-0 but quickly rallying in the middle period to tie the game on Peter McFetridge's first of two counter-attack goals.
Burnaby then took the lead off the ensuing faceoff on Calvin Craig's hat trick marker and held on to at least a share of that lead for all but a couple of minutes in the third.
"It's good to see what we can do in 40 minutes. We had confidence we could come out with a win," said McFetridge, who was dealt to the Lakers in an earlier preseason trade for the rights to Burnaby's No. 1 draft pick Kevin Crowley. "That's the biggest thing. We had confidence we can actually come back."
Tied 5-5 heading into the final frame, New West stole back the lead on Martin Cummings' second goal of the game from the left crease, this time on a great setup from Salmonbellies' third star Jeff Zywicki.
But Burnaby struck back quick-ly on Colton Clark's first of two in the period on a power play.
McFetridge then put the Lakers back into the lead on a transition goal after a great reaction save from rookie keeper and second star Dan Lewis on Jordan McBride.
Lewis, who had another strong start in the Burnaby net, stopped 35 shots for his fourth win of the season.
Craig was named the game's first star, with a game-high three goals and four points.
"I know this was a big moment
for the team and for me," McFetridge said, referring to Burnaby's first two games against the 'Bellies. "I won't lie, it was emotional to be back in Queen's Park (on Thursday) and being on the opposite end of the floor. I wasn't sure how I'd react. But going into the game and having confidence that we can beat them was huge."
The proof came later in the third period after New West's Sean Robinson knotted the contest at 77 with his second of the game midway through the period.
But Trevor Moore countered for Burnaby with a sweeping low shot off a screen that fooled Matt Roik.
Clark then tallied the game-winner on a nice cross-floor pass from Dane Stevens at 16: 58.
But Burnaby did not get away without some collateral damage.
Defenders Owen McNabb, with an injured ankle, and Mike Brascia, with a hamstring, both had to be helped from the floor in the third period.
But McFetridge said it's all about going forward from here on in.
"For us to be where we're at. . it's just a great show," he said. "We're not focussing on what we're doing wrong, but building on what we're doing right."
With just three games left in the regular season and both Maple Ridge and Nanaimo within a point of Burnaby for the fourth-and-final playoff spot, every point will be crucial.
The Lakers are in Victoria on Friday.
