MINTO CUP RECAP: Coquitlam outlasts Okotoks in round robin thriller

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The objective of most sports events is to outscore the other team - but no one ever said it had to be pretty in the process. The Coquitlam Adanacs took that to the fullest, trailing from behind all the way until the last goal of the game, which is all they needed to pull out a thrilling 11-10 win over the upstart Alberta champions Okotoks Raiders. 

The collection of talent Alberta lacrosse has was on full display as the Raiders nearly pulled off an epic upset over the B.C. champions. There haven't been too many teams that have taken the game to the A's much like the Raiders did in the first period of Friday's contest. They came storming out of the gates, holding a 2-0 lead through the first four minutes thanks to goals from Jake Foster and Travis Getz. Harrison Matsuoka scored three of his four goals on the afternoon in the first frame, giving Okotoks a 6-3 lead through one.

But as much as the Raiders dominated the first 20, Coquitlam was determined to do much of the same in the middle frame. The two teams traded a pair of goals and it took a three-goal Coquitlam run at the end of the 2nd to pull the game into an 8-8 tie. Goals coming from Steph Charbonneau and Reid Bowering underscored the Adanacs strong transition game. 

Special teams was a major factor in the 2nd period, with five of the seven goals coming either on the power play or short handed. 

Those pesky Raiders went back up 10-8 a little over halfway through the third thanks to another Matsuoka goal, but it was all Adanacs from there, the defending champions showing a little magic along the way. 

Chase Scanlan cut the lead back to one just over a minute later and John Hofseth added a power play marker two minutes later. Colin Munro waited for the perfect time to add his first goal of the season, making it the game winner and pushing Coquitlam to a 2-0 round robin record. 

If Coquitlam can continue to be lethal on the power play and make teams pay for taking undisciplined penalties, they will likely feel good in their chances to put enough goals up to compete with any team the rest of the way. They were 5 of 7 on the power play, while Okotoks were 2-5 and had a short-handed marker. 

With Six Nations defeating Mimico 8-3 in the other game on the night, tomorrow nights game between the A's and Arrows sets up to be a battle for a bye straight into the best-of-5 finals. Mimico faces an uphill battle and will have to defeat the Raiders in order to earn a spot in the 2-3 semifinal game on Monday, Aug. 21. 

Christian Del Bianco made 23 saves on 33 shots while Kevin Orleman was similarly strong, making 38 saves on 49 shots. 

Game MVP's were Angelo Pontellini for Coquitlam and Harrison Matsuoka for Okotoks.