Rick Stiebel/News Gazette staff
Continuing the pattern of the first two games, the team that took the ferry lost game three in the Western Lacrosse Association final series, which has been dominated by the home team. The Victoria Shamrocks went down 14-4 to the New Westminster Salmonbellies Tuesday on the mainland, setting the stage for a key game Friday in a series where neither team has been able to string together two wins in a row.
New Westminster took a 3-1 lead eight minutes into the game on goals by Logan Schuss, with Casey Jackson scoring for the Shamrocks. The Salmonbellies dominated the middle frame with eight straight goals, with Schuss leading the way again with two, giving him five on the night. Despite a 45-34 advantage in shots, Victoria trailed 9-1 after two periods.
The Salmonbellies notched four goals in a row to start the third before the Shamrocks finally found some offence with three goals in a two-minute span late in the game. Jackson, with his second of the game, Evan Messenger and Joe Resetarits accounted for Victoria’s goals.
A nine-point performance by Schuss and a 52-save effort from netminder Alexis Buque keyed the win for New Westminster.
Shamrocks captain Corey Small was named on Tuesday to the WLA’s first all-star team on the strength of an 88-point season, which led the league. Steve Priolo, who scored 11 points in 18 games, earned a spot on the second team.
Game four Friday at The Q Centre gets underway at 6 p.m. Tickets are available at victoriashamrocks.com.
reporter@goldstreamgazette.com