NLL Insider

The Western Lacrosse Association (WLA) schedule is highlighted this week with the Maple Ridge Burrards visiting the Burnaby Lakers on Friday night. Victoria also hosts a key game against New Westminster tonight. Both games are scheduled to start at 7:45pm PST.

“Friday is a big game against Maple Ridge, it will be a four pointer,” adds Burnaby GM Paul Rowbotham. “They are nipping at our heels for that fourth and final playoff spot.”

Maple Ridge (4-9) is currently in fifth-place, five points back of fourth-place Burnaby (6-5-1). They split last weekend, beating last-place Langley (2-11) but failing to second-place Coquitlam (10-3).

“For the past few years, our games with Burnaby have all been close and they usually resemble a chess match,” adds Maple Ridge GM and head coach Daren Fridge.

“Discipline or lack there of, is always an issue in tight games. We need to be focused on our goal of reaching the playoffs and not be selfish with personal goals that affect our success.”

Burnaby has been on a tear lately – winning six of their last seven. Burnaby’s Cam Sedgwick has been selected the first star in six of the last seven games he’s played. Their recent additions of former No. 1 overall pick Tom Johnson and players like Spencer Martin and tender Curtis Palidwor should make this team even more dangerous.

After dropping an OT game to Burnaby last week, the third-place Victoria Shamrocks (7-5) are now just one point up the Lakers and have a tough schedule over the next few weeks, starting with first-place New Westminster (11-1) tonight. Victoria’s next four games are all against New West and Coquitlam, the league’s two top teams.

Nanaimo (3-9-1) is now in fifth-place, seven points back of Victoria, after going 0-2 by losing to Victoria and Coquitlam last week. They will play the Adanacs again on Saturday and be in desperation mode, looking to grab a win and keep within sight of a fading playoff spot.

Coquitlam rookie Dane Dobbie and veteran Jason Wulder are again leading the league in scoring with 52 and 50 points respectively.

Here is your complete WLA schedule for the week of July 9, 2008:

New Westminster at Victoria - Wed, Jul 9, 7:45 pm
Maple Ridge at Burnaby - Fri, Jul 11 7:45 pm
Coquitlam at Nanaimo - Sat, Jul 12 7:00 pm
Langley at Maple Ridge Sun, Jul 13 6:45 pm

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