MAPLE RIDGE 14
VICTORIA 11
The Victoria Shamrocks were unable to finish what they started as they lost 14-11 in overtime to the Maple Ridge Burrards in their Western Lacrosse Association championship series game Sunday at The Q Centre.
The result gave the Burrards a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven final with the next game Tuesday in Maple Ridge.
Victoria scored the first five goals of聽 the game but the early surge was not enough to carry the Shamrocks who were outscored 3-0 in overtime. Each time the Shamrocks pulled ahead, the Burrards battled back. Maple Ridge sent the game into overtime by scoring the last two goals of regulation time with their goalie on the bench in favour of an extra attacker.
It was 5-1 for the Shamrocks after the first period and 8-6 at the end of the second. The third period ended tied 11-11.
Jeff Shattler scored two goals for Victoria in the opening session while Cole Pickup, Chris Wardle and Cory Conway added one each. Dan Taylor replied for the Burrards.
The Burrards scored the first two goals of the second period. Jeff Shattler responded with two for Victoria and Rhys Duch followed with another marker for the Shamrocks but a stubborn Maple Ridge team did not lie down. Taylor and Riley Loewen scored to keep their team within striking distance. The second period featured a combined 16 penalties including six majors.
The Burrards pulled into an 8-8 tie six minutes into the third period and a see-saw battle ensued. Ethan Garland scored for the Shamrocks and Connor Goodwin came back聽 for the Burrards. The Shamrocks pulled ahead late on goals from Duch and Corey Small, and the Burrards once again bounced back, scoring two goals with their goalie pulled to tie the game and send it to overtime.
Taylor was the game's first star with four goals and four assists while Shattler was the second star with four goals and an assist. Loewen, with three goals and three assists was the third star.
Maple Ridge outshot Victoria 57-51, including 9-6 in overtime.
Both teams have had problems getting untracked at home聽 with the Burrards winning the opener 11-6 Wednesday in Victoria before the Shamrocks rebounded聽 for an 11-9 win Friday in Maple Ridge.
