The Armstrong Shamrocks stopped the Kamloops Rattlers 11-10 in double overtime Saturday night in Thompson Okanagan Senior Lacrosse League action at the Nor-Val Sports Centre.
Jarrett Medhurst supplied the winner and was named first star.
“I was very proud of their effort tonight,” said Shamrocks’ coach Glenn (Stumpy) Mitchell. “It was our second game in two nights, we were down 7-4 during the second period and it would have been easy for them to give up.
“They bounced back and showed that there is a lot of heart and character on this team.”
Kamloops got on the board first with a powerplay goal from Mark Jurista.
The Rocks answered back with two powerplay goals from captain Chad Pounder and Kyle Versteeg.
Kamloops drew even when Riley Donahue got his first of four goals on the night.
Armstrong took a 3-2 lead into the dressing room when ageless Pat Nelson added another tally before the first expired.
The second period saw teams exchange goals early. Kamloops tied the game on a goal by J.J. Woldum.
The Rattlers caught fire and reeled off goals by Nathan Aikens, Lee Black and two by third star Donahue.
The Shamrocks responded after a time-out with their own three-goal run. The goals came from Kas Boudreau, Versteeg, and Medhurst.
It was 7-7 after two periods. The third period started with the Shamrocks taking a two-goal lead on snipes by Medhurst and Nelson.
“I am not sure if they keep track in the record books of how many grandpas get hat tricks in senior lacrosse but I know the list is fairly short,” said Mitchell, of second star Nelson.
The Rattlers’ Nate Woldum got one back on the man advantage.Armstrong regained their two-goal lead when Boudreau added his second of the night shorthanded.
Kamloops refused to go quietly and responded with Donahue adding his fourth of the night.
With 4.7 seconds left, Jurista tied the game and sent it to overtime.
The second overtime saw Kamloops get their best chance when Jurista got a clear breakaway on Rocks goalie Chad Pieper.
Pieper’s huge save turned out to be the TSN turning point.
Pieper sprung his team on a rush down the other way. Medhurst picked up his own rebound and fired it past Rattlers’ goalie Mike Smith, for the winner.
Armstrong hosts the Rattlers Friday, May 9 at Nor-Val.
