Coming off their first loss of the Western Lacrosse Association season the night previous in Coquitlam, the Shamrocks bounced back for a 12-10 road victory over the Maple Ridge Burrards. After missing Saturday鈥檚 setback, Rhys Duch and Chris Wardle returned to the roster and provided seven and four points, respectively, as Victoria improved to 5-1 to remain in first place in the standings.
It was a matchup of what is expected to be the league鈥檚 top two teams and a repeat of last year鈥檚 championship final, won by the Burrards.
鈥淚t was a nice character win. There are a lot of guys on this team who are used to going into Maple Ridge and having to battle and play a game where your skill has to be there, but your physical presence has to be there as well,鈥� said Shamrocks head coach Bob Heyes. 鈥淏ut there were also guys who didn鈥檛 know what it takes to go to Maple Ridge and those guys now know what it takes.
鈥淚t was satisfying to get a weekend split, making sure we got the two points [Sunday].鈥�
Duch had three goals and four assists while Wardle had two of each. Casey Jackson was also a catalyst on offence with three goals and two helpers. Corey Small added a pair of goals, while Mike Triolo and Jon Harnett had the others.
鈥淚t was good to have Chris Wardle and Rhys Duch back in the lineup. Those guys create space for Smallsy [Small] and Jackson up front,鈥� said Heyes, whose team led by 9-4 and 11-6 counts. 鈥淲e鈥檙e still dealing with some nagging injuries with Rhys. We have to be aware and take care of those injuries, but when he鈥檚 in, he鈥檚 that instant threat that you need.鈥�
Mike Mallory and Owen Barker had four goals apiece for Maple Ridge, which falls to 3-2 in the standings. Cody Hagedorn made 40 saves for Victoria, while Frankie Scigliano stopped 38 shots for the Burrards.
The Shamrocks will get back at it at home on Friday at 7:30 p.m. against New Westminster and then venture to Nanaimo on Sunday night.
With the National Lacrosse League season now over that means goaltenders Aaron Bold and Adam Shute should soon be available to Victoria. Shute was the third goalie with the new NLL champion Georgia Swarm while Bold tended goal for the runner-up Saskatchewan Rush.
