The Coquitlam Adanacs scored four powerplay goals and two shorthanded goals as the Maple Ridge Burrards fell 7-5 in front of a packed house at Planet Ice in their home opener.
The local senior A men's lacrosse club was without top scorers Jarrett Davis, Curtis Dickson, Riley Loewen and Simon Giourmetakis, and managed just a single powerplay goal in their absence, despite 12 opportunities.
However, head coach Daren Fridge he wasn't disappointed in the loss given the strong defensive effort his team put forth.
"The defence did their job," he said. "We knew going into this game goals would be an issue. Having [Dickson, Davis, Loewen, and Giourmetakis] back would obviously alleviate the pressure on Aaron Pascas and Randy Daly.
"I'm optimistic the scoring chances will open up when they get back. We won't be the same team the next time we see [the Adanacs]."
Goalie Chris Seidel made 33 saves on 40 shots, while at the other end of the rink, Daly led Burrards scorers with a goal and three assists.
"He was the oldest guy on the floor and he was putting out best effort," said Fridge of Daly.
While the Burrards only allowed a single even-strength goal, the squad's play on special teams was cause for concern for Fridge.
"When we're giving up goals like we were on special teams, that shouldn't be happening," he said.
Part of the reason, he believes, was due to the Burrards not playing any exhibition games this season, and not being able to have a full scrimmage until last Thursday.
There was a packed house at Planet Ice Sunday night to see the Burrards in action for the first time this season, with the local senior A club offering free admission, as well as a pregame barbecue, for local minor lacrosse players and their families. The Burrards opened the scoring midway through the first period thanks to a shorthanded goal from the stick Derek Lowe.
The Adanacs responded with two goals in the following two and a half minutes to take their first lead of the game.
Tyler Miotto tied things up for Maple Ridge with the Burrards only powerplay goal of the game, before Coquitlam's Jaxson Lee restored the Adanacs one-goal lead before the first intermission.
Coquitlam stretched their lead to two early in the second period only to have the Burrards answer back with two of their own to tie the game at 4-4. Randy Daly scored in the 10th minute, while rookie Brandon Bertoia, playing in his first-ever game in a Burrards uniform, scored shorthanded with four minutes left in the period.
However, Coquitlam again scored a goal late in the period to take a one-goal lead into the third.
The Adanacs scored two powerplay goals early in the third to jump ahead of the Burrards by three. Rookie Blake Mattinson scored with just over six minutes to play to bring the Burrards within two, but that was as close as the home team would get, falling 7-5.
Fridge said he was impressed with the play of his rookies, with both Mattinson and Bertoia getting on to the scoresheet.
"David Joyce had a good game on defence, so did [Richard] Cambrey," he said.
The Burrards head to Vancouver Island to take on the Victoria Shamrocks on Friday before returning home to host the Burnaby Lakers on Sunday at Planet Ice in Maple Ridge.
Fridge said he is hopeful he will have Tyler Codron, Daniel Amesbury, Dickson, and Giourmetakis back in the lineup for this weekend's games.
• The Maple Ridge Burrards next home game is this Sunday, May 27, against the Burnaby Lakers at Planet Ice in Maple Ridge. Game time is 6:45 p.m.