(Forest) – With several of their big guns on the shelf with injuries, the Sarnia Legionnaires relied on a couple of unlikely heroes to get a big road win Saturday.

Rookie Jake Unsworth and defensive-forward Andy Sokol scored as the Legion crew edged the Lambton Shores Predators 2-1.

For the streaking Legionnaires, it was their fourth win in the last five games.

The stubborn Preds out-shot Sarnia 38-32 but could only beat acrobatic Legionnaire goalie Kyle Washer once.

In addition to his goaltending heroics, Washer was almost like a third defenceman out there at times, passing the puck and even stickhandling with it on one occasion.

Predators netman Sean Parker was also sharp. In fact, his 30 saves earned him second star honours.

Sokol got the visitors on the board first when he fired home a shot from close range just before the mid-point of the second period. Rookie Josh Teschke got the lone assist on the goal, which was Sokol's ninth of the campaign.

Unsworth made it 2-0 early in the final frame when he scooped up a loose puck and calmly fired it into the net with Parker out of position.

Afterward, Unsworth, a former Jr. 'C' player with the Alvinston Flyers, said he's noticed a big difference between 'C' and 'B' hockey.

“It's a lot faster and there's a lot harder passing,” the LCCVI student said.

Unsworth, who has also played one game in the OHL with the London Knights, says he hopes to get back to Jr. 'A' at some point in the future. “But I've got to put on some weight,” the 165-pounder said.

Brandon Stewart scored on a two-on-one break at 4:10 of the third to ruin Washer's shutout bid and set the stage for a dramatic finish.

• Zupancic and Brent Sauve had assists on Unsworth's goal.

• Sokol was named first star, while Parker was second and Stewart third.

• Attendance was 278, including a few dozen people from Sarnia.

• Nathan Mater, a 15-year-old call-up from minor hockey ranks, took a regular shift for the Legionnaires and did not look out of place.

• Sarnia played without Captain Tyler Cicchini, Tanner Tomlinson, Shawn Waldie and Tommy Ziolkowski, all of whom were injured or sick.

• The Legionnaires return to action next Thursday when they host the first-place London Nationals at the Sarnia Arena. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

• Sarnia now has a record of 13-12-5.