A reversion to the old days of lacrosse has the defence shooting and offence defending as the Victoria Shamrocks are going old school for the 2012 B.C. Junior A Lacrosse League season (ages 18 to 21).
The Shamrocks jumped into first place with a perfect opening weekend, and downed the Delta Islanders 10-4 and Poco Saints 10-7.
Nine different players scored for the Shamrocks in the home-opener on Saturday against the Islanders. The variety of scorers is due to a retooling of the bench, said new Shamrocks head coach Larry Smeltzer.
B次元官网网址淭he system is a work in progress. WeB次元官网网址檝e seen flashes of brilliance with it, but have a long way to go before itB次元官网网址檚 perfected. It contributed to our first two wins, but so did a deep desire from our players to win.B次元官网网址�
Basically, Smeltzer is moving away from the specialization of offence and defence, with all players taking on a transition role, and playing at both ends of the rink.
B次元官网网址淏ox lacrosse seems to have deteriorated into some form of the field game (forced) into the arena. Box players used to play offence and defence. Field isnB次元官网网址檛 a bad sport, but it belongs on the field, and not inside an arena.B次元官网网址�
SmeltzerB次元官网网址檚 strategy is a response to the slower-moving but highly effective attack of the Coquitlam Adanacs and New Westminster Salmonbellies.
One of the changes is an increased ball-handling role by the goalies.
Cody Hagedorn made 43 saves on 47 shots on Saturday and on Sunday rookie goaltender Mike Berti made his debut, stopping 40 of 47 shots. Berti was added to the tandem in favour of last yearB次元官网网址檚 goalie Cory Mayzes, who was cut, Smeltzer said.
B次元官网网址淗agedorn and Berti move the ball. ThatB次元官网网址檚 part of our system, theyB次元官网网址檙e handling the ball much more and are the release person.B次元官网网址�
It has led to breakaways and a faster counter-attack, he said.
"Fans saw more breakaways (by the Shamrocks) on Saturday than they have in years."
The weekend was a different story for the Intermediate-A (16-18) Victoria Shamrocks, which lost 14-11 to the Coquitlam Adanacs on Saturday but won 10-4 over the expansion Maple Ridge Burrards on Sunday.
Jordan Cunningham led the Shamrocks with four goals and a helper on Saturday, while Darrin Wilson had a pair of goals and team captain Max Fredrickson picked up a goal and three assists. Cunningham netted a hat trick on Sunday.
This Saturday (May 5) at Bear Mountain Arena the Baby B次元官网网址橰ocks host the Salmonbellies at 1:30 p.m., followed by the Jr. B次元官网网址橰ocks at 5 p.m. vs. the defending B.C. champion Adanacs.
