The Armstrong Shamrocks overcame another slow start as they doubled the South Okanagan Flames 10-5 in Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League action Sunday afternoon at Memorial Arena in Penticton.
“We took them for granted, we are having trouble with our starts right now,” said Shamrocks’ coach Brett Logan.
The Flames (1-0-3) lost 15-6 to the Kamloops Venom Saturday night.
The Flames led 3-2 after the first off Connor Walton’s two goals.
“We had some guys come out and it looked like they were working on different things,” said Logan. “We realized in the first intermission that we needed to pull up our socks.”
Armstrong (3-0-2) hasn’t been operating with a full roster and was dealt a serious blow in the second period.
Colby Erickson slammed a Flame into the boards in the restricted area by the bench. The hit resulted in a game misconduct and a three-game suspension.
“Colby was doing what he has been taught. He picked his guy up right out of the bench; Colby was just a little too close and too strong. He is such a strong guy, any other kid it would have been an interference penalty,” said Logan.
Despite the infraction, the Rocks rallied for five goals, leading 7-5 after two.
Drew Hassard carried the Shamrocks with four goals in the final 40 minutes and finished with five.
“Our second and third periods were much better. I think it comes down to the guys need to be more focused before the game,” said Logan.
Armstrong captain Cam Nelson, Keith Minnis and Marlon Forrest recorded three assists a piece.
Joel Castle, Sam Hanley, Daniel Petersen and Austin Pugh added singles.
The Shamrocks battle the Vernon Tigers (3-0-1) tonight at the Nor-Val Sports Centre in Armstrong.
Heat torch the Legends
The Penticton Heat took advantage of a short North Okanagan bench as they breezed past the Vernon Super 8 Midget B Legends 10-2 Sunday afternoon in Penticton.
The Legends were missing six players, but held Penticton to three goals in the first.
Captain Chase Bronson and assistant captain Riley Swiscoski supplied the Legends’ goals.
A few Legends left with minor injuries in the second, further shrinking the bench. Penticton led 7-2 after two periods.
“The kids were put up against the wall and battled throughout and that is what we were impressed with. Some teams give up, these kids don’t,” said Legends’ coach Travis Mann.
The Legends host Penticton Saturday, May 24 at Nor-Val.
