Mark Matthews, here in Edmonton Rush garb, led Langley to a win Wednesday. (Edmonton Journal files.)
Mark Matthews, who had one goal in the Langley Thunder’s four-game sweep of the Coquitlam Adanacs in the Western Lacrosse semifinals, bagged a hat trick in the opener of the championship Wednesday, propelling his team to a 7-6 home-floor win over the Victoria Shamrocks.
The best-of-seven set, which decides the B.C. reps for the Mann Cup national finale, resumes at Bear Mountain Arena in Victoria.
Matthews, one of the players the Thunder purchased the rights to from Ontario teams just prior to the WLA roster deadline, scored twice in a one minute, 36-second span midway through the third period to put his team up 7-4.
Garrett Billings had one goal and four assists for the Thunder, the two-time reigning WLA champions and the regular season pennant winners this year. Brodie MacDonald made 48 stops in the Langley net.
Victoria, the regular season runners-up, received one goal and two assists from Rhys Duch. Matt Vinc made 26 saves.
