The Armstrong Shamrocks finally had a full roster to face the host Kamloops Rattlers, but it still wasn’t enough Wednesday night at Memorial Arena.
The Rattlers used a five-goal night by Riley Donahue to brush back Armstrong 8-6 in the Shamrocks’ final Thompson Okanagan Senior Lacrosse League regular-season tilt.
The Shamrocks open playoffs Wednesday night against the host Kelowna Raiders, with Game 2 set for Friday night (7:30) at Nor-Val Sports Centre.
The Irish opened their account Wednesday with Kaz Boudreau scoring on a dive through the crease. Pat Nelson added to the total with a powerplay goal.
The Rattlers got on the board before the intermission with a goal by Riley Donahue on a delayed penalty.
Kriss Yargeau restored Armstrong’s two-goal cushion in the second period, but that seemed to wake up the Rattlers, who got three straight goals from Donahue, and a single from JJ Woldum.
The Rocks answered back with a behind-the-back goal from Thomas Belenger.
The third period saw the teams exchange early goals – Donahue and AJ Lockwood counting for Kamloops, and Jamie Cockerill for the Rocks.
Derek Swan put the Rattlers up 8-5 when he capitalized on a delay of game call to Steve Clark. The Shamrocks’ Chad Pounder got one back late, but it wasn’t enough.
