POST-GAME REPORT: Victoria Shamrocks Edge Salmonbellies 6-5

There’s reason for the old cliché that lacrosse is a game of runs, and tonight’s contest at the Q Centre proved it.

Victoria stormed out to a 4–0 lead in the first period with Brodie Wade opening the scoring on a shorthanded marker.  That was followed by goals from Tyler Burton, Jesse King (his first goal this season as he returned to the lineup for the first time) and Mathieu Gautier.

After a timeout by Coach Jason Bishop, the Salmonbellies responded. Will Malcom broke the drought at 14:15, and Jacob Ruest followed with his first of the night just over a minute later to cut the deficit to 4–2 by the end of the first.

The Bellies kept it rolling in the second. Haiden Dickson scored at 7:48, then Ruest tallied his second of the game at 8:29, the only multi-goal performance by any player on the night. Just six seconds later, Tyrell Hamer-Jackson won the ensuing face-off cleanly, was cross-checked to the floor, and sent a one-handed a pass to Preston Lupul.  Lupul finished the play to give the Bellies a 5–4 lead. The Shamrocks immediately called a timeout to settle their bench.

There would no more scoring in the second period. In fact, Justin Geddie shut out the Shamrocks in the frame with a strong series of stops, including several in-tight saves as Victoria pushed to respond, but Origlieri was just as stingy in the Rocks’ net.

Geddie continued his shutout stretch until 9:21 of the third, when Patrick Dodds finally beat him to tie the game.  Zach Manns would then convert Victoria’s fifth and final power play at 12:35, Victoria’s only power play goal of the night and the eventual game-winner.

In the dying moments, Tyler Pace appeared to tie it for the Salmonbellies, but the goal was waved off due to a crease violation.

It has been a long time since New Westminster has faced such heartbreak in a 48-hour stretch, falling twice by a single goal in back-to-back games.  The scores demonstrate the razor-thin margins at the top of the Western Lacrosse Association standings, with the Bellies now third at 16 points (8W 2L) behind Victoria’s 17 points (8W 1L 1T) and Coquitlam’s 17 as well (8W 2L 1T).  The Shamrocks have already beaten Coquitlam twice this year, meaning that they have the tiebreaker for the season. Meanwhile, the Salmonbellies and Shamrocks will have to wait until July 18 to see who wins their season series. That will be the third to last game of the year and it will be played in Victoria. It is bound to be a critical one based on the way the standings are looking right now.

The Salmonbellies were without key many of their key players, including defenders Jeff Cornwall, Justin Salt, Adam Wiedemann, Conner Cook, and Jordan Gilles. On offense, they missed Ryan Martel and Logan Schuss. But once again, Jacob Ruest impressed with a strong two-way performance and led New West with two goals. Jake Govett and Coady Adamson both suited up for their third games of the season. Govett earned two assists, while Adamson added 1. And Nathan Henare was called up to play for his first time with the senior Bellies.

Three Stars

1.        Zach Manns (Victoria) – 1G, 2A

2.        Drew Belgrave (New Westminster)

3.        Mathieu Gautier (Victoria) – 1G, 1A

Next up for the Salmonbellies: a home game this Thursday at Queen’s Park Arena against the Maple Ridge Burrards.  Expect the Bellies to be pushing hard because a win will put them right back at the top of the standings.

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