It was only a mid-season Western Lacrosse Association game, but for the Victoria Shamrocks, the 10-9 victory in Burnaby over the Lakers last week was a big deal because it halted a five-game losing spiral.
“It was super important for us because of coming when it did,” said Shamrocks head coach Mike Simpson.
“It wasn’t a Picasso but we are not in a position to talk about great artistic victories.”
At this point, the Shamrocks (5-6-1) will take them any way they come.
The next chance is tonight in a difficult challenge against the WLA co-leading New Westminster Salmonbellies (11-2 and on a four-game winning streak) at 6:45 p.m. at The Q Centre.
The games then come hot and heavy with Victoria at Coquitlam on Saturday night to face the last-place Adanacs (1-11-1). The Island derby goes Wednesday at The Q Centre against the surging Nanaimo Timbermen (9-4-1), who are on a five-game winning streak, before the Shamrocks close out their perhaps season-defining stretch of four games in seven days next Thursday at Queen’ Park Arena in New Westminster.
The games during the recent five-game swoon were all competitive and Shamrocks brass felt only tweaks were needed.
“We got the transition goals in Burnaby that we haven’t been getting and that takes the pressure off our front-door guys,” said Simpson.
“Our forwards were maybe trying to be too fine in picking corners or ringing shots off posts. Just shoot the ball. I believe in volume shooting.”
The return of Casey Wilson was key against the Lakers, as the rookie star returned from winning the silver medal with sa国际传媒 at the recent world field lacrosse championship in San Diego, to score the winning goal in Burnaby among his two on the night.
“Casey brings superior quickness and is a tough player to check,” said Simpson.
“We even put him on the power play.”
The Salmonbellies, meanwhile, are led by WLA player-of-the-week Haiden Dickson, the Calgary Roughnecks NLL pro, who has a dizzying 41 goals in 13 games this WLA season.
“New Westminster is a great team that is playing well right now,” said Simpson.
“But we can mix it up with them. Everybody on our team believes we have a huge opportunity to win this game [tonight].”
