The Victoria Shamrocks will compete for a third straight Western Lacrosse Association championship after sweeping the Maple Ridge Burrards in four straight games in the best-of-seven semifinal series.
Rhys Duch scored five goals and added three assists and Corey Small had four of each as the two recorded eight-point nights in Victoria鈥檚 clinching 13-4 win in Maple Ridge on Sunday.
The Shamrocks now await the New Westminster Salmonbellies, who knocked off the Langley Thunder 10-8 on Monday night at the Langley Events Centre to sweep their first-round series 4-0. As of Monday night, there was no official word when the championship series will begin.
鈥淎ll wrapped up with a few bumps and bruises,鈥� Shamrocks head coach Bob Heyes said of Victoria鈥檚 series win. 鈥淭hat battle tested us. You never know what a series will be like. But they were a physical club and that gives us the confidence we can play that way, if we have to.
鈥淚n the past we haven鈥檛 had a team built with that aspect, but Rory [Smith] and [Steve] Priolo now give us that versatility.鈥�
Daryl Veltman, who returned from his one-game suspension, and Cory Conway added a goal and three assists each for the Shamrocks. Jesse King had a goal and two assists and Priolo added one goal and one helper for the victors.
Aaron Bold had another stellar start in goal, stopping 30 of 33 shots he faced before being replaced by Cody Hagedorn for the last 3:52. It was a second straight game in which Bold posted a save percentage above .900.
Brandon Mulligan started for Maple Ridge and was beaten 12 times on 35 shots. Carson Michaud replaced him for 8:06 and, like Hagedorn, allowed one goal.
Mike Mallory, with three goals, and Dan Taylor replied for the Burrards.
The Shamrocks broke open a tight 2-1 game after one period with nine second-period goals and, overall, Victoria outscored Maple Ridge by a staggering 51-23 mark.
鈥淚鈥檓 hoping for a week to recover,鈥� said Heyes, who obviously expected to see the Salmonbellies up next. 鈥淭hat gives us a chance to sell some tickets and get people into the barn. That will be a classic series, like an Original Six matchup in hockey.
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