Sunday’s senior B lacrosse game was a strange one, but there was one aspect that was the same as usual – Jon Diplock’s high-scoring ways.
Diplock scored his 50th goal of the season as part of a five-goal game Sunday as the Nanaimo DBL Timbermen defeated the Langley Warriors 12-9 at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.
The Warriors came to Vancouver Island so under-manned that they had to borrow a Nanaimo player, Alex McDougall, and that still only bumped their lineup up to eight runners. McDougall went on to score a hat trick against his DBL team, keeping the game close before Diplock’s three third-period goals salted it away.
“We didn’t play as strong a game as we wanted, but we did all we needed to do to win,” said Mike Maughan, coach of the DBL T-men.
“Playing a team like this, it’s easy to get complacent, so it’s a good time to reiterate getting back to basics and the things that are going to help you win a game like this where you’re maybe not as focused and sharp and at full pace.”
Diplock now has 53 goals, which is the most in franchise history since Kevin Shires scored 53 in 1992. The team record is 60, set by Ken Morrison in 1991.
Diplock said it was exciting to reach the 50-goal milestone.
“I’ve just pretty much been doing the same thing I’ve been doing my whole career, I’ve just seemed to find the net,” he said.
Maughan said Diplock has been able to score so many goals while playing consistently and unselfishly.
“He’s getting the goals that are important, too, and he’s deserving of everything he’s gotten this year. He’s been an impressive player.”
Trevor Walton added a hat trick in Sunday’s game and Ryan Forslund, Brent Holness, Tyler Archer and Kyle Noble also scored. Pat Mallough was the winning goalie.
On Thursday, the Timbermen scored a 12-10 road win over the Ladner Pioneers. Shane Chalker had a hat trick in that contest and Ben Stebbins and Russell Thomas had two goals each. Joey Fendick, McDougall, Diplock, Gabe Sutherland and Noble also tallied. Mallough got the ‘W’ after relieving Ray Hodgkinson, who got hurt.
GAME ON … The DBL T-men (11-7) have one more regular-season game remaining, Friday (July 20) on the road against the North Shore Indians (2-14-0-1). If the T-men defeat the Indians, they are assured of finishing with the No. 4 seed for playoffs.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com
