The Vancouver Warriors keep finding ways to win games. Whether they’re down early or it’s a close game or a high scoring game. It doesn’t matter, they are finding ways to keep stacking wins. The production isn’t coming from a few players either. It’s a full team effort each night. After dropping two one-goal games on the road to Ottawa and Philadelphia, Vancouver returned home for a rematch with the Ottawa Black Bears. The Warriors couldn’t afford to drop three games in a row or lose to the same team for a second time within a week.

So how did the Warriors respond? By surrendering a franchise-low four goals, including only one at even strength. It was a true testament to the resiliency that head coach and general manager Curt Malawsky always preaches. Post-game, Malawsky stressed how the last road trip wasn’t up to the standard the Warriors need to play.

“We were pretty pissed off. You know, I had a good chat with the leadership group last night, and we talked about how it was a good bonding weekend, but at the end of the day, it was very disappointing to have two one-goal losses, and that’s not acceptable. That was the message even though we played in two tough games, we didn’t win.”

“That’s something I’ve seen in Vancouver over the years, the culture of being close but that’s not good enough. ‘We’re close, but that’s okay.’ It’s not okay, and it’s on the leadership. They really stood up and sent that message today. We didn’t get what we came for last week, and we need to get what we’re here for this weekend”.

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Losing three consecutive games is something no team wants to do. Goaltender Aden Walsh added how important it was to get this win — especially at home. “As much fun as we had as a group it was definitely disappointing that we didn’t get the outcome that we wanted. So we knew we had to buckle down and get this  one at home.”

Adam Charalambides was dominant from the moment the game started by creating scoring chances with multiple behind-the-back passes. He finished with a hattrick and three assists. Like his coach, Charalambides emphasized how important it was to get the win after the two road losses. “We weren’t satisfied with that road trip. (There were) two disappointing one goal losses and we understood the magnitude of other going 3-and-4 and now we’re sitting here at 4-and-3. We played it like a playoff game and I like the way we played.”

He added that he feels the Warriors are taking steps forward as a team. “Each week, we’re trying to get better… we’re doing the film, win or lose. (We) come back to the drawing board, back to the basics and (look at) what can we improve on, what are we doing well. Let’s keep rolling with what we are doing well.

In each of their four wins, the Warriors had different players step up. Even though they only have 71 goals for, which is third lowest in the National Lacrosse League, they have only allowed 64 goals, which is the second best in the league. They aren’t winning with star power, they are winning as a team, which is a recipe for success in the NLL. Especially for a team with playoff and championship aspirations, like the Warriors