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Jr. ’Rocks gain mental win in loss to Adanacs

Victoria Junior Shamrocks move to 3-1 on season with weekend split, defeat Burnaby Lake 11-6 but lost 10-7 to Coquitlam Adanacs
Junior Victoria Shamrocks vs Delta Islanders
Delta Islander Ben Snider checks Victoria Junior Shamrock Brody Eastwood at Bear Mountain Arena in the home-opener of the 2012 junior-A lacrosse season.

The Victoria junior Shamrocks might have lost 10-7 on the score sheet, but the group came away with a moral victory against the Coquitlam Adanacs on Saturday (May 5).

In last year’s playoff series, the Adanacs outscored the Shamrocks 54-9, so when the Shamrocks went up 3-0 on goals by Blair Pinnock, Jordan Cunningham and Brody Eastwood, the Adanacs were in shock.

The problem was, so were the Shamrocks.

The Ads have been the toast of the B.C. Junior A lacrosse league the past three seasons, but graduated nearly the entire championship roster from 2011.

“The Shamrocks are no longer afraid of Coquitlam anymore,” said head coach Larry Smeltzer. “Psychologically, against the Adanacs the last few seasons we were beaten before the game started. But we’ve put that to rest.”

The Adanacs came back with a better second period and eventually won the game. But the positives are there, Smeltzer said.

Devon Casey scored a hat trick in the loss.

Smeltzer got a surprise at the ferry terminal on Sunday morning when three injured players showed up to make the trip to Burnaby.

Russell Kirk, Jake Emms and Jamie Sorensen not only dressed but each scored a goal, as the ’Rocks beat the Lakers 11-6. Adam Brown scored two goals and four assists, Devon Casey had three goals, Brodie Eastwood had two goals and Dane Sorensen scored a single.

Goalie Cody Hagedorn made 35 saves in Sunday’s win and also recorded four assists on the weekend. Hagedorn has moved to sixth in team scoring with five assists, as he’s the lynch pin for the club’s fast break, the fruit of the Smeltzer’s old-school transition game which does away with specialization. Instead, players play both offensive and defensive roles until their shift is up, and the group has bought in, Smeltzer said.

“Now the ball is back in the coach’s court. We’ve introduced (the system to the players). Now it’s up to us to teach certain intricacies that go with it.”

The Jr. Shamrocks host the New Westminster Salmonbellies on Saturday (May 12), 5 p.m. at Bear Mountain Arena.

’Bellies steal win from intermediates

The intermediate-A (ages 16 to 18) Victoria Shamrocks blew a 6-2 lead over the visiting New Westminster Salmonbellies on Saturday, losing a heartbreaker 11-10 in overtime.

Jake Cullen led the Shamrocks with four goals and team captain Max Fredrickson scored two goals.