Bob Heyes said after Game 1 of the series between his Victoria Shamrocks and Burnaby Lakers that it would be a war of attrition.
Those words are ringing true as the Shamrocks defeated the Lakers 10-7 in Friday night鈥檚 nasty, drawn-out affair at The Q Centre that wasn鈥檛 the Western Lacrosse Association鈥檚 finest few hours for officiating.
Victoria now leads the series 3-0 with Game 4 on the Mainland on Sunday at 6 p.m, but that鈥檚 not the story.
Unfortunately for Heyes, he lost the services of Jesse King early after he opened the scoring 5:04 in as the offensive star appeared to injure his left leg as he landed after flying through the air while burying the ball behind goalie Tyler Richards.
He was said to be at the hospital as Heyes spoke afterward.
Josh Fagan also went down with a right leg injury midway through the first period, just a day after losing Doug Langlois. In Game 1 it was Ian McShane who was lost to a knee injury.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a battle. We have bodies dropping every single game,鈥� said Heyes, almost in disbelief. 鈥淭his game was one of the biggest games in the history of this club.
鈥淚t was unbelievable what these guys had to battle through. You lose, arguably, your best player. That places a lot on a psyche. That can crush a team or build it up and it hasn鈥檛 been a smooth season.鈥�
But they managed to pull it out again in the third period, out-scoring Burnaby 5-1 for the win.
鈥淲e still have one huge game to win with a depleted lineup. But there is a belief that is here,鈥� said Heyes. 鈥淭hey gave us their all tonight, but we just keep coming.鈥�
The game became unhinged early with questionable officiating both ways while commissioner Ernie Truant was on hand.
Rhys Duch again led the way for the Shamrocks, this time with four goals and an assist while Jeff Shattler had a goal and three helpers. King, Chris Wardle, Corey Small, call-up Braylon Lumb and Taylor Northway had the others. Lumb and Northway鈥檚 were huge insurance goals in the last 4:40.
Robert Church replied with a hat-trick for the Lakers, while Jason Jones and Tyler Digby had a pair each.
