The Cowichan Rats ran out of time after three periods of trading goals with the Wsanec Arrows last Thursday, and ended up on the wrong side of a 9-8 final score in Victoria Senior Lacrosse League play.
The Rats and Arrows were deadlocked at 2-2 after one period and 6-6 after two, but the Arrows scored two to Cowichan’s three in the final frame, and a late push by the Rats was unsuccessful.
Curt Gailey led the Cowichan attack with three goals and one assist despite missing the third period, and Dan Alger had a goal and three helpers. Ryan King scored twice, Pete Vanden Dungen added a goal and one helper, and Kyle Kaltiainen also found the back of the net. Tyler Clint contributed a pair of assists, and Nick Prangley and Dylan Dewarle had one apiece.
Kevin Smith made his senior C debut between the pipes just hours after returning from a vacation in Cuba and had a solid 25-save outing. Jericho Paul, who the Rats had borrowed from the Arrows for their season opener a week earlier, earned the win with 30 saves.
The Rats started the chippy affair with 15 runners, but thanks to injuries and penalties, were down to less than a dozen by the final buzzer. It didn’t help that Cowichan was issued 26 penalty minutes, while the Arrows were handed 11.
The Rats will play their next two games against the Jokers. The teams will square off in Esquimalt on Thursday before the Rats host their home opener at the Cowichan Arena on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.