The Shamrocks head coach also wants to see a much better finish, after fading late in the third period last Friday and dropping a 12-10 overtime home result to the Maple Ridge Burrards.
Victoria surrendered six of the last seven goals recorded in the upsetting defeat, after Greg Harnett had given the locals a 9-6 advantage just seven seconds into the third period. Adam Brown had also presented the Shamrocks with a 10-8 lead at 7:38, but the hosts awkwardly folded the tent late.
鈥淲e haven鈥檛 got off to very good starts and that鈥檚 part of the mindset that who we are is maybe not who we think we are and that鈥檚 my part as a coach, to come in more prepared. The young kids on the team maybe aren鈥檛 as prepared as to what鈥檚 going to happen out there,鈥� said Heyes, who took some blame.
鈥淲hat it comes down to is I have to make sure they鈥檙e prepared and I will take that [blame] for those slow starts.鈥�
Down 4-0, the team did roar back and had full control until that pivotal third period in which some poise and plenty of discipline was lost.
鈥淚 focused the guys on the penalty trouble coming into the third and I said it was vital that we do the right things to come through unscathed. I thought the first five minutes of the third was going to be key and right off the bat, Greg gets that huge goal off the opening faceoff,鈥� said Heyes.
鈥淭hen we killed the penalties off and we had a few breakdowns and some more untimely penalties. I wasn鈥檛 too happy about some of the penalties, which put pressure on the team.鈥�
He fingered Conway鈥檚 roughing major (late in the second period) and Jon Harnett鈥檚 unsportsmanlike conduct misconduct (at 7:47 of the third) as costly gaps without key players.
Now, after opening the Western Lacrosse Association season with three straight wins, the 3-2 Shamrocks are riding a two-game skid and will attempt to stop that slide tonight against what should be a hungry 0-3 Thunder team.
The Shamrocks are also entering a wonky part of the schedule as they will then play Sunday in Maple Ridge before a long break until a rare Tuesday, June 21, game in Burnaby, in which Jesse King is slated to make his return.
Following tonight鈥檚 game, the Shamrocks do not play at home for two weeks as the New Westminster Salmonbellies venture to town on June 24.
Bond for Burrards
The WLA has taken action against the Maple Ridge Burrards regarding 鈥渢he increasing amount of violent behaviour detracting from the game of lacrosse,鈥� the league said in a statement.
After several incidents in waning minutes of games, the WLA has opted to force the Burrards to pay a $25,000 surety bond by 11 a.m. on Sunday or operations will be suspended and rosters frozen. The written resolution was signed by six of the seven governors of the WLA.
The terms of the bond require that the Burrards comply with the 2016 WLA operating policy and that they receive no further suspensions or fines arising from fighting-related incidents.
According to the release, should the Burrards violate the terms and conditions of the bond, the surety will be forfeited to the WLA and the Burrards will no longer be in good standing with the league.
鈥淪ince only teams which are in good standing with the WLA may participate in league games, this will immediately end the Burrards鈥� season until the matter is reviewed at the WLA annual general meeting in December,鈥� said the league statement.
The Shamrocks are due to play in Maple Ridge on Sunday night.
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