The Victoria Shamrocks were pushed to the limit in Game 1鈥檚 come-from-behind 9-6 victory over the Burnaby Lakers and they expect an even bigger shove in Game 2 tonight at 7:45 at Bill Copeland Arena.
鈥淎bsolutely, they鈥檙e going to try and make a statement, but we鈥檙e coming out prepared,鈥� said Jesse King, who had a goal in the key third period on Tuesday. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to get there nice and early, compared to what we usually do. We鈥檒l be mentally prepared and we鈥檝e got guys fired up to get into the lineup.鈥�
And the Shamrocks will likely need them as Game 1 was a surprisingly physical battle 鈥� something Western Lacrosse Association fans expect from the likes of the Maple Ridge Burrards, rather than the Lakers.
Victoria鈥檚 Ian McShane was lost early in the game with what appeared to be a knee injury. Jon Harnett also took a major for roughing and a game misconduct in the last minute, which may warrant a look-see from the league.
It was all part of an often nasty game in which neither team refused to budge.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e going to do that. They鈥檙e going to come out and the only way they can beat us is to play their rough, chippy game and we fell into that in the second period and that鈥檚 why we weren鈥檛 as successful,鈥� said King. 鈥淚n the third, we played our game. Rhys [Duch] got hot and we kept getting him the ball.鈥�
Frustrations were evident as the Shamrocks鈥� offence went through a 23:03 span in which they failed to score, from 6:22 of the opening period till 9:25 of the second. King tossed away a couple of turnovers trying to find ways to get passes across.
鈥淎bsolutely, it was frustrating at times, but teammates are good that way. They keep you level-minded and ready to go and positive. I finally did get to bury one and took some weight off my shoulders, I guess,鈥� said King.
Once again, Duch handled most of the offence with five goals and three assists. Captain Corey Small was scoreless, but had four assists. Cory Conway and King had a goal and two helpers each and Jeff Shattler had one of each.
鈥淩hys has his nights; Corey can go off any night of the week; Jeff can have that type of night; and Cory Conway can have 17 points in one game, all of a sudden,鈥� said King, reminding everyone of Conway鈥檚 big opening outing this season in which he had two goals and 15 helpers. 鈥淓very night is different. If Rhys is willing to do that and we keep winning games, then I have no problem with that.
鈥淚t comes with our offence. We鈥檙e so balanced. If we can get up the floor as fast as we can and get back to our game and moving the ball side to side 鈥� that鈥檚 what makes us successful.鈥�
After the win, Shamrocks head coach Bob Heyes didn鈥檛 appear too worried about the offensive stall, but he may have had a flash of concern when his team trailed 6-5 early in the third.
鈥淲e had a lot of shots [56]. Tyler Richards is a good goaltender and we need to get him moving a bit more,鈥� Heyes said of the Burnaby netminder.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e keying on so many guys, but King got a big goal when we needed one and so did Conway. We can鈥檛 expect these guys to get three or four goals a game. What we probably need is some transition goals,鈥� added Heyes.
As for Duch, Heyes continues to be impressed.
鈥淗e gets better with age. For a guy who puts his body through a pounding, it鈥檚 outstanding that he continues to lead the way,鈥� he said of the WLA鈥檚 points and scoring leader.
