It’s pretty rare for a Western Lacrosse Association game to end 4-2. But that was the bizarre score that the Maple Ridge Burrards lost by on Sunday as they hosted the Burnaby Lakers.
No team had been held to two goals in a game yet this season, until Sunday.
Three times other teams have been held to just three goals, but never two.
In fact, the Burrards have not been held to two goals in the past 11 seasons – if ever.
“Even six goals between two teams is bizarre,” said Burrards coach Rob Williams. “When you allow four goals against, you almost always win.”
Zak Boychuk had a game for the ages in the Burnaby net, stopping 40 of 42 shots for a 0.952 save percentage.
Burrard Frank Scigliano was also good, with 36 saves on 40 shots.
“Both goaltenders played excellent, but I don’t think we got a lot of quality shots,” said Williams. “We’re playing on the perimeter.”
Ben McIntosh had a goal and an assist, and Connor Goodwin also scored for Ridge.
The Burrards started the season undefeated through their first six games, with five wins a tie. But they have now lost three of their last four. Both the Coquitlam Adanacs and Victoria Shamrocks are just a point behind them in the WLA standings, and both have a game in hand.
Williams said he did not want to make excuses, but his diagnosis for the mini slump is the team got out of synch with new players coming in from their NLL teams, and also by the league threatening the Burrards with expulsion from the league for late-game fighting.
They’re playing tentative, he noted.
The Burrards have not had a penalty in their last two games, another rare feat in lacrosse.
Still, the coach likes his team. They’re still in first place, and even the losses have come in close games.
“We just need some time to gel. The lineup has changed, and guys need to learn to play with each other,” he said.
“We can’t make excuses – we’ve just got to get out and play.”
They’ve got a long break coming up, for practice and injuries to heal, and to get back to a winning style, he said.
The Burrards will take on the Langley Thunder on Saturday, July 9 at 7:45 p.m. at the Langley Events Centre.
Their next home game will be Tuesday, July 12 at 7:45 p.m., when they host the Coquitlam Adanacs.