Focus on the here and now, and don鈥檛 worry about the last game, or the next game.
That鈥檚 the message Victoria Shamrocks coach Bob Heyes is getting across to his team these playoff days. It has paid off with two straight victories over the Burnaby Lakers in the best-of-seven Western Lacrosse Association semifinals.
Tonight, they鈥檒l need that focus more than ever, when a desperate Lakers squad visits Bear Mountain Arena for the third game of the series, beginning at 7:45 p.m.
鈥淚t鈥檒l just be a battle. They鈥檙e fighting for their lives,鈥� Heyes said. 鈥淔or us, it鈥檚 another stepping stone. We鈥檝e got to win two more.鈥�
Heyes credited the Shamrocks with staying even-keeled through a 12-11 Game 2 win in Burnaby on Wednesday. Despite keeping the score close, the Shamrocks trailed nearly the entire game, then calmly surged into the lead in a late-game rally.
鈥淲e probably carried the play and had control of the game. Then we looked at the scoreboard and Burnaby was up 6-3 at one point,鈥� Heyes said. 鈥淚t was kind of one of those head scratchers. But we weren鈥檛 panicking.鈥�
The Shamrocks led 10 minutes into Wednesday鈥檚 game, but every time Victoria scored, Burnaby countered. In the final 10 minutes of the opening stanza, the Lakers were up 6-3 and looked like they might run away with it.
Heyes hadn鈥檛 wanted to use one of his precious timeouts that early but needed to regroup the troops. He felt that was the turning point, as Cory Conway went out and nailed one at the buzzer.
鈥淚t was a big play. ... I think it kind of took Burnaby鈥檚 focus away a little bit.鈥�
Along with Conway鈥檚 goal, the Shamrocks relied heavily on special teams as well as spreading out their scoring. Five players connected for five goals, as the 鈥橰ocks pulled into a three-goal lead late in the third period. The penalty-kill unit picked up four shorthanded goals, including a pair from Jeff Shattler, back in action after missing Game 1 with an injury.
鈥淭hat was a real key. It created a ton of confidence on the bench,鈥� Heyes said.
In the other semifinal series, Langley beat Coquitlam 9-7 Thursday to take a 3-0 series lead.
