Captain Scott Ranger scored 2:09 into overtime to cap a 4-3 comeback win for the Victoria Shamrocks over the Langley Thunder in Game 4 of the Western Lacrosse Association final Friday night at Bear Mountain Arena.
Trailing 3-1 late in the second period, Victoria’s Cory Conway, with his second of the night, scored with 44 seconds to play in the frame to cut the lead to one. Rhys Duch added another Shamrock goal early in the third period to force OT.
Brett Mydske, with a pair, and Alex Turner handled the Thunder’s offence in front of Vernon netminder Brodie MacDonald, who finished with 57 saves. Matt Vinc made 47 stops for the win.
Game 5 is scheduled for Tuesday night in Langley, with Game 6 returning to Victoria Thursday. If necessary, Game 7 would go next Sunday in Langley.
The winner hosts the Ontario champion Brooklin Redmen in the Mann Cup final, starting Friday, Sept. 6. The Redmen eliminated the perennial favourite Peterborough Lakers in the Ontario final last week, meaning the Mann Cup will have its a new winner for the first time since the Shamrocks won it in 2005. Since then its been won the Brampton Excelsiors three times, and Petes, four times.
– With files from the Langley Times
