The New Westminster Salmonbellies defeated the Victoria Shamrocks 11-9 to open their best-of-five Western Lacrosse Association playoff semifinal series on Wednesday night at Queen’s Park Arena.
The upstart fourth-seed visitors took a 4-2 lead into the first break. The top-seed Salmonbellies led 7-6 after the second period before building leads of 10-7 and 11-8 in the third period.
Former Shamrocks star Mitch Jones led the Salmonbellies with a hat-trick and four assists for seven points. Will Malcolm added two goals on a five-point night.
Marshal King led Victoria with two goals and three assists for five points, Casey Wilson two goals and two assists and Chris Wardle a goal and three assists. Tom Vaesen scored twice for the Shamrocks and Liam Phillips and Derek Lloyd once each.
Shamrocks goaltender Cam Dunkerley stopped 29 of 40 New Westminster shots and ’Bellies goaltender Zach Higgins blocked 41 of the 50 Victoria shots.
The second game is Friday at The Q Centre and the third game next Wednesday at Queen’s Park Arena. If required, the fourth game would be Aug. 11 at The Q Centre and the fifth game Aug. 13 at Queen’s Park Arena.
The other semifinal series opened Tuesday night at the Langley Events Centre with the second-seed Thunder defeating the third-seed Nanaimo Timbermen 14-6. The second game is tonight at Frank Crane Arena in the Harbour City.
