Game night: Maple Ridge Burrards visit the Victoria Shamrocks, 7:45 p.m. at Bear Mountain Arena, tonight (July 20)
With a huge win over the New Westminster Salmonbellies on Tuesday, the Victoria Shamrocks moved a lot closer to clinching a Western Lacrosse Association playoff spot.
In a contest with dire implications, the Shamrocks took a 7-3 lead over the Salmonbellies, let the lead slip to 8-7 in the third period, but salvaged the win.
The win puts the Shamrocks (8-6) into a three-way tie for second place, and puts an end to the ShamrocksB次元官网网址� four-game losing streak.
B次元官网网址淟osing four straight you can become a fragile team, and we avoided that,B次元官网网址� said coach Bob Heyes.
B次元官网网址淭hat win was a microcosm of our entire season,B次元官网网址� Heyes said. B次元官网网址淲e take over control at times, then at other times we make it difficult on ourselves.B次元官网网址�
The Shamrocks outscored the Salmonbellies 2-1 and 5-2 in the first two periods.
It was hard to pinpoint what was difficult about the third period, when the Salmonbellies came back from 7-3 to within a goal, other than the Salmonbellies stabilizing their defensive game, which was dismal in second-period. Kory Kowalyk, Karsen Leung and Corey Small each scored twice for the Shamrocks, with Matt Yager scoring on a breakaway and Ben McCullough adding the empty-netter.
For Shamrocks captain Matt Lyons, itB次元官网网址檚 another big win in the ongoing rivalry with New West, a rivalry which he parachuted into three years ago.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an especially big win with the league being so tight right now. ItB次元官网网址檚 chippy, but that rivalry is how old? ItB次元官网网址檚 not going anywhere.B次元官网网址�
The WLA rivalry is actually 62 years old, but Victoria teams have been playing against New West since the 1880s.
Next up for the Shamrocks is the Maple Ridge Burrards (2-12) at home on Friday night, followed by a road game against the first-place Langley Thunder (10-5) on Saturday.
ItB次元官网网址檚 the first time recently acquired Derek Lowe will face his old team.
B次元官网网址淢aple Ridge will play with pride, and Lowe will want to show well, so weB次元官网网址檒l be motivated,B次元官网网址� Heyes sad.
The Shamrocks will conclude the season with a home-and home versus the Nanaimo Timbermen, in Victoria on July 27 and Nanaimo on July 28.
sports@vicnews.com
