With the game tied at 7-7 six minutes into the second period of Monday鈥檚 opening playoff matchup between the Victoria Shamrocks and Maple Ridge Burrards, there were more than a few heads being scratched at The Q Centre.
With seven goals against on 20 shots, even Shamrocks goalie Aaron Bold 鈥� a key piece of the 2015 Western Lacrosse Association puzzle for the locals 鈥� was wondering just where Game 1 was heading.
But Bold buckled down, allowing just two more goals on 28 more shots as the Shamrocks walked off with the 13-9 win and now head to Maple Ridge tonight at 6:30 for Game 2.
鈥淚t was an ugly start for myself,鈥� said Bold, always frank and to the point. 鈥淥ur team played very, very well. I don鈥檛 know if I was mentally prepared or what. They had some quick shots off swings. I thought I was in my angles, but they got some quick ones off and they were in the back of the net.鈥�
Up 5-1 just six minutes into the game, the Shamrocks surrendered four straight to end the opening period.
鈥淗ats off to them, they kept working hard and kept pushing us throughout the game. I don鈥檛 think that will stop me from moving forward to Wednesday, as well as Saturday and Sunday [Games 3 and 4],鈥� said Bold, who made key stops.
His biggest came late tied at 7-7 and in the second period on a power play with his team up 10-7.
鈥淚 definitely settled in. That鈥檚 the biggest thing as a goaltender that I, not necessarily, have mastered, but got better at is the mental aspect,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f they get a few in, who cares. You can鈥檛 do anything about it. Just focus on the next one and try and calm yourself, be more reactive to that shot and have composure.鈥�
To be fair, the Burrards were allowed a little too much time and space on several of those goals, two of which came on the power play as they continued their pest-like game.
鈥淭hey have guys on that team for a reason. They aggravate, get under your skin. You take bad penalties and they鈥檙e productive on the power play,鈥� said Bold.
It鈥檒l only get worse in Maple Ridge in front of home fans. Coach Chris Gill virtually guaranteed it as he felt the Shamrocks were the chipper bunch.
鈥淚t was Game 1. We鈥檙e looking to go at least five now,鈥� he said after Game 1. 鈥淲e have character and we have heart. I don鈥檛 think they鈥檙e going to get away with the dirty stuff that they got away with [in Victoria]. Next time we come here I guess we鈥檙e going to have to dress a different lineup because we鈥檙e not going to get the calls.
鈥淲e're going to have to battle everybody and back our players up, because if the refs aren鈥檛 going to help out and call the dirty stuff, we鈥檙e going to have to do it on our own.鈥�
Gill was obviously trying to play to the officials.
鈥淭he team that doesn鈥檛 get into that stuff is usually going to have the success,鈥� said Heyes. 鈥淚t鈥檚 evident they have a good power play so we don鈥檛 need to get drawn into that stuff, but the game is emotional and that gets the better of guys, some of the time. We鈥檙e better off not getting involved.鈥�
