Adanacs seize momentum with decisive fifth-game victory
Coquitlam’s senior A lacrosse club took a significant stride towards a provincial crown and a shot at the national Mann Cup after a 7-4 victory over the Maple Ridge Burrards in a winner-take-all fifth game Thursday at Cam Neely Arena.
The Adanacs built an early lead by scoring the first five goals of the game and never relinquished control. Key offensive contributions came from Thomas Semple, Parker Kennedy and Adam Noakes, who each finished with two goals, while Kean Moon added the team’s seventh.
Between the pipes, veteran netminder Christian Del Bianco delivered a strong performance, stopping 43 of 47 shots and anchoring the defensive effort that closed out the series.
Coquitlam scored the first five goals and never looked back.
Series arc and what comes next
The Adanacs entered the postseason having finished third in the regular season — two points behind Maple Ridge — and overcame an early series deficit after dropping Game One. They responded with wins in Games Two and Three, but the Burrards forced a decisive Game Five by winning Tuesday’s fourth contest 9-7.
Coquitlam will now meet the Victoria Shamrocks in the WLA final. Victoria, which finished the regular season with only two losses, swept the fourth-place Nanaimo Timbermen in three straight semi-final games.
The best-of-seven championship opens Saturday at the Q Centre in Victoria. The series returns to Coquitlam’s Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex for Game Two on Monday, Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. The winner of the WLA final will represent the league at the Mann Cup national championship in Ontario in September.
Local implications: growth, community and the West Coast lacrosse tradition
The Adanacs are a fixture of the Tri-Cities sporting scene, and the team’s run highlights lacrosse’s deep roots on the West Coast. A home final game at Poirier is likely to draw strong local interest: the club’s postseason success keeps the community engaged with a generational sport that feeds into provincial and national competitions.
For Coquitlam residents, the series offers both a communal sporting event and an economic uptick for local businesses near the arena on game nights. The club’s advancement also raises the profile of box lacrosse locally, which supports youth participation and the development pipeline feeding senior teams.
- Final score: Coquitlam Adanacs 7, Maple Ridge Burrards 4
- Notable scorers: Thomas Semple (2), Parker Kennedy (2), Adam Noakes (2), Kean Moon (1)
- Goalie: Christian Del Bianco — 43 saves on 47 shots
- Next: WLA final begins Saturday at the Q Centre (Victoria); Game Two in Coquitlam Monday, Aug. 17, 7 p.m.
Quick reference
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Adanacs regular season finish | Third (two points behind Maple Ridge) |
| Shamrocks regular season | Lost only twice |
| Mann Cup location | Ontario (September) |
The Adanacs’ advancing sends an unmistakable message: local sport remains a cornerstone of community life on the Tri-Cities’ rapidly changing West Coast. With Game Two set for Poirier, Coquitlam will have an immediate chance to rally behind its team as the province’s best lacrosse clubs vie for a national berth.
