The Ladner Pioneers now have their back against the wall in the West Coast Senior Lacrosse Association playoffs.
The Nanaimo Timbermen have forced a fifth and deciding game in the semi-final series after a decisive 12-6 home floor victory on Tuesday night. Game five will be played on Thursday (7 p.m.) at the Ladner Leisure Centre.
The Pioneers looked poised to advance to the championship series in relatively easy fashion after opening with a pair of wins. However, Nanaimo stayed alive with a 9-6 road victory last week and now have extended the series to the distance.
Ladner has played the past two games without leading scorer Nathan Clare who was sidelined with an expected shoulder injury in last Tuesdays 9-5 game two victory.
The Pioneers had finished first in the regular season with a 12-2 record that included a pair of wins over Nanaimo.
