Saints refuse to blink in New West, storm back for a statement win!

July 14, 2026

Some nights, a team shows you exactly who they are. In New Westminster on a warm July evening, your Port Coquitlam Saints did just that—steadying themselves after a rocky start, leaning into their identity, and grinding out a 12–9 win that felt every bit like late‑season lacrosse.

For the first two minutes, it looked like trouble. The Salmonbellies came out flying, punching in two quick goals before the Saints had even settled into their defensive rotations. Poco couldn’t buy a possession, couldn’t slow the pace, couldn’t find a rhythm.

Then Jared Maznik decided he’d had enough.

At the five‑minute mark, Maznik broke free, stepped into space, and buried one to finally put the Saints on the board. It wasn’t just a goal—it was ignition. Poco rattled off four straight, flipping the game on its head and taking a lead they would never surrender.

From there, the tone shifted. The physicality ramped up. Every loose ball felt like a playoff battle. Every rebound came with bodies crashing, sticks swinging, and players refusing to give an inch. It was gritty, tense, and wildly entertaining.

Maznik owned the night. Five goals, each one arriving at a moment when the Saints needed a push, a reminder, or a dagger. He played like a man determined to tilt the floor.

On the defensive end, the work was relentless. Levy Touhey and Adam Wong scooped up eight loose balls each, setting the tone for a Saints group that refused to let New West dictate the pace. Their hustle kept possessions alive, killed momentum, and quietly shaped the entire game.

The Salmonbellies weren’t about to roll over. They clawed back late in the second period, trimming the Saints’ lead to just two and giving the home crowd something to roar about. For a moment, it felt like the game might crack open again.

But Poco’s composure held. They tightened up defensively, pushed transition with purpose, and kept the scoring steady enough to maintain control. Every time New West threatened, the Saints answered with a smart possession or a timely stop.

By the third period, the Saints had re‑established their grip, closing out the night with the kind of maturity that separates contenders from pretenders.

Port Coquitlam Saints 12New Westminster Salmonbellies 9

A road win, a resilient win, and a win that shows exactly how dangerous this Saints team can be when they trust their structure.

The final regular‑season matchup arrives Thursday, July 16 at 7:30 pm, on the road against the Langley Thunder at the Langley Events Centre. One more chance to sharpen the edges before the real battles begin.

Team Stats – Season Leaders

• Loose Balls: Adam Wong
• Caused Turnovers: Nolan Ross
• Turnovers: Josh Mills
• Blocked Shots: Levi Touhey