It'll be a Victoria-New Westminster final as the Western Lacrosse Association playoffs race toward a conclusion.
The Shamrocks, making a bid for a third straight trip to the Mann Cup national championships – and second time hosting in three seasons – reached the final with a 13-4 win over the Maple Ridge Burrards on the mainland Sunday night. The Burrards, who lost four straight to the 'Rocks in last year's WLA final, didn't have the horses to keep up with the defending champs, as they were outscored 51-23 in the series this time.
New Westminster finished off a four-game semifinal sweep of the Thunder with a 10-8 win in Langley last night. The final gets underway this Friday at The Q Centre starting at 6 p.m. Subsequent scheduled games go Monday in New West, Wednesday Aug. 19 in Colwood (7:45 p.m. start) and Friday, Aug. 21 in New West.
Last Sunday in Maple Ridge, the Burrards held the Shamrocks to a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes, but the floodgates opened in the second, as Victoria scored on nine of 17 shots to make it 11-2 entering the third.
Rhys Duch, with five goals and three assists, and Corey Small with four and four, led the Shamrocks' charge on the night. Aaron Bold turned aside 30 of 33 shots he faced in 56 minutes of play.