The Langley Warriors are off to a flying start in their West Coast Senior Lacrosse Association (WCSLA) championship series against the Nanaimo Timbermen.
A 7-4 win over the Timbermen Saturday afternoon at the Langley Events Centre gives the Warriors a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five set involving the two teams.
The Warriors ended the regular season strong with an 11-2 record, and swept their best-of-five semifinal series versus the North Shore Indians in three straight games.
The Warriors have been in Langley since 2009 and their ultimate goal, as it is with every senior B team, is to make it to the President’s Cup, Canada's senior B box lacrosse national championship.
Langley – led by the league’s leading scorer Bryan Poole who racked up 80 points in 14 games during the regular season – is eager to hit the road to Leduc, Alta., where the tournament will be held this year.
But first, they’ll need to battle past Nanaimo in the final playoff final.
“We’ve spent many years building our senior B program here in Langley,” says Denise Forlin, the team’s general manager and governor. “Our team is a real powerhouse this year. We’re excited to play Nanaimo for the final series of playoffs.”
Nanaimo ended the regular season in second place behind Langley with a 9-4 record.
After the teams meet at the Nanaimo Ice Centre for game two on Sunday, they head back to the LEC for game three this Thursday, Aug. 11 at the LEC.
Admission for adults is $10, seniors are $5 and kids under 12 get in free.
If the series goes the full five games, the Warriors and Timbermen will meet in the series-clinching fifth contest on Sunday, Aug. 14 at 5 p.m. at the LEC.