An overwhelming win Saturday against a visiting U.S. lacrosse side didn’t help fire up the intermediate A Victoria Shamrocks for the one that counted in the standings the next day.
The Shamrocks (12-5), in a tight battle for top spot in the B.C. league, went into Maple Ridge on Sunday and absorbed a 14-4 defeat at the hands of the Burrards (13-5).
While Maple Ridge is the only team to beat Victoria twice this season and would win a tiebreaker, the Shamrocks can improve their lot this Saturday (July 9) at home with a win over the Burnaby Lakers (1-15) in their final league game. Start time is 1:30 p.m. at The Q Centre.
Victoria began last weekend with a 17-7 win over the touring Cali-Lax team.
After spotting the Americans a 2-1 lead by the first intermission, the Shamrocks took advantage of what appeared to be a fatigued Cali-Lax lineup and opened up a 10-6 lead after two periods. The hosts also scored the first six goals of the final frame to put the game out of reach.
Jake Campbell and Jackson Boyd each had a hat trick in the win, with Garrett Wicks, Brayden McQuarrie and Caleb Kueber each adding a pair, while Kueber chipped in four helpers.
For Cali-Lax, it was their fourth loss in five games on their B.C. tour.
Jr. Shamrocks’ season over after tough loss
The junior A Shamrocks’ playoff hopes were dashed Sunday with a 17-13 road loss to the Delta Islanders in their final regular season game.
On the bubble for the fifth and final post-season berth entering weekend play in the B.C. Junior ‘A’ Lacrosse League, the Shamrocks (9-12) beat also-ran Burnaby 11-7 in Colwood on Saturday. But they ran into a red-hot Delta squad the following day after building an 8-3 lead by the first intermission.
Marshal King, who heads to Coquitlam this week to compete for Team Canada in the World Under-19 Field Lacrosse Championships, lit up the Islanders early on Sunday, scoring four goals in the first period to help the Shamrocks build a healthy lead.
The second-place Islanders (14-6) roared back after that, however, outscoring the visitors 4-0 in the second and cranking up their game in the third.
King’s fifth goal of the game made it 10-10 early in the final period, but that was as close as Victoria got.
Eddie Smith scored from King and Cole Pickup to narrow the gap to 13-12 Delta with 6:40 to go, but the Islanders reeled off three straight goal in the dying minutes to put the game away.
While the Shamrocks remain tied with Langley (9-10) for fifth place, the Rivermen hold the tie-breaker even if they lose their final two games.
Other Victoria goals came from Brad McCulley, Pickup, Nick Preston, Braylon Lumb, Daniel Smith, Tyler Mace and David Byrne.
On Saturday, Colton Merilainen had three goals, while Pickup and King had two goals and three helpers to lead the Shamrocks’ attack.
Senior club returns to WLA action Wednesday
Coming off a nine-day break from Western Lacrosse Association play, the senior Shamrocks are in Langley on Wednesday night (July 6) to face the Thunder.
Victoria (6-2) welcomes the Coquitlam Adanacs (6-3) to The Q Centre for a Friday night game, starting at 7:45 p.m. It’s the first time the teams have met this season.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
