Langley down Lakers 15-14 in overtime

The Lakers held the lead throughout the game but couldn’t finish off Langley, who hung on and tied the game late, forcing overtime and winning a close one, 15-14.

The Thunder have done the unthinkable and beaten the Lakers twice and now hold a convincing two-nothing series lead.

“I don’t think we played a full sixty minutes defensively,” said Lakers defensive head coach Bob Keast. “We didn’t do our job, we have to tighten up and play a better team offense and when we do that we are really hard to beat.”

The Lakers faced two very good offenses in Six Nations and Brooklin, but Langley can move the ball around and also have the speed to go-on-one.

“We have a pretty you group and fresh legs,” said Jensen. “One of the things we had this year that I don’t think any other of the teams in the west have was depth.”

The Lakers offense have been scoring and Lakers head coach Jamie Batley admits his defense have to make some stops.

 “We hit 14 tonight,” said Batley. “The goals are coming for us. Were finding a way a to score on this goalie but we have to find away to stop them from scoring.” 

Some untimely penalties hurt the Lakers and the key to game three could be staying out of the box.

“We were undisciplined,” said Batley “Not only do they get a power play but now guys have to scramble and rag the ball, and other guys have to play the short man, it takes away from your longevity.”

Garret Billings was quiet early in the game but stepped it up late for Langley, factoring in on eight of the last nine goals to help his team come from behind and steal game two.

“I think we were down three times in that games and we managed to come back and tie it up,” said Billings, who credits his team and his coach’s attitude for the team’s great composure.  “I never get to excited one way or the other and Lewis and Iannucci are like that as well and I think it filters down through the rest of the team and its nice to know we are able to come back from a couple of goals and put balls in the net.”

Billings was a dual threat firing home 3 goals and adding seven helpers for 10 pts and was named Langley’s MVP but he is quick to credit his teammates.

After being held scoreless in game one, Cory Vitrelli found the back of the net four times and was named the Lakers MVP.

John Grant was injured late in the game, when it appeared a passing player clipped him in the knee. He had to be taken to the hospital and there is no word on his condition at the moment.

The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sports (CCES) were on hand for game two taking random samples for both teams. MSL commissioner Jim Brady couldn’t confirm if they were testing for performance enhancing drugs or recreational drugs as well. This was the first time players have been tested at the Mann Cup.

Let the head games begin as both teams wore white jerseys for the warm-up in game two. Langley wore black in game one and it was their turn to be the home team.