With another two wins over the last week, the Cowichan Rats clinched a top-two spot in the Vancouver Island Lacrosse League regular-season standings and a bye to the semifinals.
Last Saturday at the Cowichan Arena, the Rats thumped the WSANEC Arrows 16-3. Brayden Zunti and Tyson Black each put up six points, Zunti with five goals and one assist, and Black with four goals and two helpers. Recent acquisition Dan Rabey added two goals and two assists. Dylan Dewarle posted a goal and two assists, Clayton Vickers had two goals, and Shane Alexander scored once. Ryan Brabander made 14 stops in goal as the Rats outshot the Arrows 67-17.
On Tuesday night in Esquimalt, the Rats stretched their winning streak to six games with a 16-5 victory over the Westshore Aces. Black finished the night with four goals and five assists, Ryan King had three goals and three assists, and Zunti had a hat trick and two assists. Pete Vanden Dungen and Aidan Miller each scored twice, Conor Manahan had a goal and an assist, and Rabey recorded three helpers.
As a top-two finisher, the Rats are guaranteed to host a semifinal match at the Cowichan Arena on July 9.
The team still has four regular-season games left, including this Saturday, when they play host to the Victoria Blazers at 7:30 p.m., and next Tuesday, when they face the Saanich Express in Esquimalt in a contest that will determine the regular-season champion.