After a tough weekend that proved they were fallible, the Victoria Shamrocks look to turn things around Friday (June 10) when they host the Langley Thunder in the teams’ first Western Lacrosse Association meeting this season.
The Shamrocks (3-2), who fell 12-10 in overtime last Friday at home to the Maple Ridge Burrards, and 14-6 in New Westminster the night before, still enter this week’s contest at The Q Centre with the upper hand on the Thunder, who come in at 0-3 on the season.
The ’Rocks head to the mainland Sunday for a rematch against the Burrards at Cam Neely Arena. Maple Ridge emerged from last weekend sporting a league-best 4-0 mark, but face a three-game week with Victoria at the tail end of it.
Last Friday’s wild and wooly game saw the Burrards’ Coady Adamson and Aaron Davis score in overtime, after their team erased a 9-6 deficit in the third period and tied the game with two minutes left. Adamson, who finished with a game-high eight points, scored twice on the night.
The Shamrocks, who trailed 4-0 early but rebounded to make it 4-3 after one period and grab an 8-6 lead after two, were led by Corey Small with three goals and three helpers, while Jeff Shattler and Rhys Duch scored twice each. Singles were scored by Paul Brebber, Greg Harnett and Adam Brown.
Victoria goaltender Cody Hagedorn made some huge saves through the game, but perhaps none bigger than one on the dying seconds of the third. On the bench for an extra attacker, Hagedorn raced back to make a diving save on a ball launched at the empty net by Burrards goalie Frankie Scigliano.
Despite being outshot 51-43 overall, Thursday’s game belonged to the Salmonbellies on the scoresheet, as they built period leads of 5-1 and 9-4. Logan Schuss had a seven-point night with three goals to lead the ’Bellies, while Shattler topped the Shamrocks with two goals and five points. Cory Conway, who opened the season with a record-setting 17 points for Victoria, was held scoreless over the weekend but continued to be a master set-up man, collecting nine assists in the two games. Entering this week he led the WLA in points with 34 and assists with 31.
Duch led in goals with 11, followed by teammates Chris Wardle and Small, who have 10 each.
Friday night’s game starts at 7:45 p.m. in Colwood and is the Saunders Subaru Salute to Local Heroes Night.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com