Robert Church made the Burnaby Laker believers.
The crafty Laker righthander scored four times to lead Burnaby to a 10-5 victory over the Maple Ridge Burrards in Game 1 of the Western Lacrosse Association semifinal at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre on Wednesday.
Church scored a back-to-back pair in a 4-1 first period and one each in the next two periods, while Tyler Richards provided the backing in goal, kicking out 34 shots to post the win in goal.
“We kind of jumped on them early. (The Burrards) were not prepared for what we offered and we just kept pushing on them for the rest of the game,” said Richards. “It was definitely our most complete game.”
Burnaby kept the pressure on for the remaining two periods, getting goals from Dane Stevens, with his second of the game, and Church, with his fourth, to start the second and third periods, respectively.
Stevens tied Church for top pointgetter with five points. Tyler Digby had a four-goal game, including Burnaby’s 8-3 goal late in the middle frame.
Shawn Dhaliwal gave the home team its biggest lead late in the contest, scoring on a clear run to the crease at the 18-minute mark of the period.
Casey Jackson garnered three points, all assists, while newcomer Chris O’Dougherty scored his first goal for the Lakers, shorthanded on a transition break with Pete McFetridge in the second period.
The Lakers are currently 5-1 since an 8-6 loss at home to Victoria in July in what Richards called a pivotal point in the season for him and the team.
“From then to now is how I expect myself to play,” he said.
After a strong finish to the regular season, the Lakers are hoping to build confidence as they move on in the playoffs.
“We have to play to our strengths and dictate what their offence will do,” added Richards. “It’s a new sense of belief in ourselves. We’re proving to ourselves that we can win at this level.”
Game 2 of the playoffs is Saturday in Maple Ridge. Game 3 is back at the Copeland centre on Monday. Both games are 7:45 p.m. starts.
