The level of concern on coach Larry Smeltzer’s face said it all on Sunday afternoon.
Smeltzer was a quick breath short of fuming after his Victoria junior Shamrocks let go of an opportunity to get back in the win column against the Port Coquitlam Saints on Sunday night, losing 11-8. The Shamrocks lost to the Delta Islanders 16-7 on Saturday, and Smeltzer summed it up to the same problem.
“Too many penalties,” Smeltzer said.
“There’ll be some changes coming up. We’ve got a full roster for the first time this season. Guys have had the luxury of knowing we needed them in the lineup, and maybe didn’t play (to stay in the lineup). But there’ll be changes.”
There was no disagreement from the Shamrocks with the refereeing on Sunday. In fact, the Saints had just as many penalties, but managed to score two shorthanded goals during a seven minute series of Shamrocks’ power plays in the second period.
“We’ve tried everything,” said second year Shamrock Chris Wardle.
“It’s tough. We’re going through a rough patch right now, and penalties cost us the game. Delta was the same.”
With a convention taking over Bear Mountain Arena for the weekend, Sunday’s match was played under the low-lights of Juan de Fuca arena.
“(Lights) weren’t the problem, though its pretty similar to Poco’s lights,” Wardle said.
Sunday was Jesse King’s first game this season, back from Ohio State. King will compete for Canada at the under -19 men’s field lacrosse world championship in Finland. Jordan Cunningham also joins the Shamrocks permanently as an under-ager from intermediate-A.
The Jr. Rocks are now fith in the league with six wins, eight losses. Next for the Rocks is a visit from the Langley Thunder, 5 p.m. on Saturday at Bear Mountain Arena.
