The Ladner Pioneers delivered an early season statement win on Sunday night.
The Pioneers came storming out of the gate and never looked back in a 13-6 road win over the previously unbeaten Coquitlam Adanacs. The result leaves Ladner, Coquitlam and Nanaimo Timbermen all tied atop the West Coast Senior Lacrosse Association standings with 5-1-0 records.
The teams were tied at 1-1 less than two minutes into the contest when the Pioneers took control by scoring three unanswered goals. The Adanacs made it 4-2 but the visitors were far from done in the opening frame — scoring five times in a 2:43 span.
It was an impressive debut for former Junior “A” Islanders standout Riley Phillips who finished with six points, including four goals. The Ladner native scored 68 goals over three seasons in the B.C. Junior “A” Lacrosse League, including 31 a year ago. He was a member of the Islanders 2016 league championship team.
Ryan Keith also had a huge night with two goals and seven points. Tyler Kirkby scored twice, with singles to Cody Nass, Spencer Bromley, Josh Neumann and Jakob Doucet. Zach Wickett was terrific in net, making 40 saves.
Ladner also produced a 13-7 road win over Langley on Friday. Bromley’s six goals and eight point night led the way. Keith had six points and the local product is now tied for the league lead in scoring with 28 points — joining teammates Bromley, Kirkby and Langley’s Bryan Poole.
The Pioneers will continue their three-game road swing with a trip to Abbotsford Wednesday to take on the winless Valley Rebels. The same teams meet June 6 at the Ladner Leisure Centre.
Big games on the horizon include Coquitlam visiting Ladner June 13 and the Pioneers in Nanaimo six days later. Two games that could go a long way towards determining the WCSLA regular season champion.
