Sports

Just 24 hours after knocking off the top team in the BCHL, the Westside Warriors fell to the leagues bottom feeders.

The Williams Lake Timberwolves won for just the first time on the road this season, getting a controversial goal from Jason Diehl 3:29 into overtime to edge the Warriors 4-3 before 1,018 stunned fans at Royal LePage Place.

The Warriors argued the goal had been kicked in, but to no avail.

"I didn't know we were playing soccer and the last time I checked a kicked goal was not a goal," says Warriors head coach Darren Yopyk of the winning goal.

"That's their call and the refs are pretty good in this league so they did a pretty good job."

Patrick Bartoshyk, Cole Wilson and Grayson Downing with a shorthanded effort scored for the Warriors. Trevor Bailey has a pair of assists including a spectacular effort to set up Downing with the goal that put the Warriors up briefly 3-2 midway through the third.

The Timberwolves led 2-1 after one with the game tied at 3-3 after 40 minutes. Neither team was able to score in the third, a period dominated mostly by the Warriors.

The Warriors came into Saturday's game on an emotional high after beating the Vernon Vipers 2-1 in overtime the previous night, ending the Vipers 21 game winning streak.

A letdown was almost expected.

"We didn't work as hard as we needed to work. It's been kind of the sorry for the year, the ebb and flow of the season, but we pulled out a point," added Yopyk.

The Warriors coach says Saturday's game is what separates his club with the top two teams in the league, referring to Vernon and Penticton.

"We have shown what we can do but it's just a matter of us being consistent, and that's the difference between us and the top teams in the league right now. When Vernon is playing a team and they are up a goal or two, they kind of step on someone's throat. We're not quite at that stage yet."

Yopyk says his team is not quite at that stage yet.

The Warriors out shot the T-Wolves 47-35, forcing net minder Evan Dauenhauer to make some spectacular saves.

Back-up Cam Gorchynski started the game for the Warriors but made way for Kevin Jebson in the third.

Yopyk says he made the change to try and get the team going in the final period.

The Warriors, who have now picked up points in eight straight (6-0-1-1), hit the road to open up December with games in Prince George Thursday, Quesnel Friday and Williams Lake Saturday.