Rocks Win Battle for Top Spot

It was a battle for top spot in the B.C. Junior ‘A’ Lacrosse League as the home team Shamrocks hosted their island rivals, the Nanaimo Timbermen at the Q Center Tuesday.  The teams were tied going into the contest and the Rocks came away with a hard-fought 14-11 victory to take over sole possession of first place.

Starting goaltenders were Victoria’s Adam Bland and for the Timbermen Justin Geddie.  The Rocks jumped into a 3-goal lead early and never trailed in the contest although there were times when Nanaimo got close and certainly made things interesting.  Scoring first for the home team was Denton Macdonald on the power play just 1:58 in with a hard shot from outside the dotted line.  The second goal didn't come until 9:29, Noah Manning connecting with a quick stick from the side of the net also with the man advantage.  Manning picked up his second of the game at 13:28 on a run to the net to make it 3-0 for the clovers.  Nanaimo broke the goose egg when Ryan Sheridan got in close to beat Bland at 17:51 and that was all the scoring for period 1, Victoria up 3-1 after 20 minutes and having outshot the visitors 21-14.

The Rocks opened the scoring in the middle frame, Casey Wilson getting in close at the 51-second mark, a shot that Geddie got a piece of but couldn’t corral.  Nanaimo replied at 3:45, Caden Onagi on a long shot that hung around behind Bland before crossing the line.  Victoria got on a 3-goal run, beginning with Wilson’s tally at 6:57 from the dotted line.  That was followed by Manning’s hat trick marker at 7:18 from the faceoff and Isaac Swan made it 7-2 at 8:58 getting in close off a loose ball.  Nanaimo got on its own 3-goal run as Riley Arsenault tallied at 9:30 on a hard shot from outside the dotted line, followed by Jacob Dunbar’s bullet from well out at 12:12.  Connor Barrett closed the gap to a pair of goals on an unassisted goal at 13:28 on a breakaway.  Before the period ended, Victoria connected once more, team captain Patrick Dodds scoring at 15:22 on a hard overhand shot from the slot.  That made it 8-5 for the Shamrocks who were outshot 21-16 in the period.

Period 3 saw the T’Men going all in early as they pulled within a goal beginning with Sheridan’s second goal of the game from behind the net just 54 seconds in.  Zander Torres closed the gap to a single goal at 1:18 getting in close.  Victoria’s offense once again responded, scoring the next 3 goals.  First it was Brodie Wade scoring at 1:46 from outside the dotted line.  Dylan Johannes restored a 3-goal Shamrocks lead at 2:30 and Jordan Neary made it 11-7 at 4:06.  Goals were coming fast and furious as Nanaimo scored just 45 seconds later, Sheridan picking up the hat trick then Dunbar getting his second at 5:13.  Wilson replied for the Rocks with his third  at 6:39 getting in close. Kaden Granberg added a shorthanded tally for Victoria at 12:08 which was quickly answered by the T’Men’s Torres, his second at 12:50 off a rebound in front and over top of the goaltender.  The teams traded goals late, Neary picking up his second on a breakaway for the home team and Nanaimo’s goaltender on the bench for the extra attacker followed by a power play goal from Sheridan from the dotted line at 18:58.

Denton Macdonald had 7 points for the Shamrocks on a goal and 6 helpers while Noah Manning and Casey Wilson each added a hat trick and 3 assists.  Patrick Dodds chipped in a goal and 4 assists. Jordan Neary had a pair of goals with other goals coming from Brodie Wade, Dylan Johannes, Kaden Granberg and Isaac Swan who also had a pair of assists.  Aido Solomon got a couple of assists while Adam Bland made 41 saves on 52 shots to pick up the win.

Ryan Sheridan led Nanaimo’s offense with 4 goals and an assist.

The Junior ‘A’ Shamrocks are on the road Saturday when they travel to Queen’s Park Arena to play the New Westminster Salmonbellies.  Next home game is Sunday at 1:00 pm at the Q Center when they will host the Langley Thunder.  That game is part of a double-header which will see the WLA Senior A Shamrocks hosting the Langley Thunder at 5:00 pm.  

If you want some lacrosse action before that, the Tier 1 Junior ‘B’ Shamrocks are in action at 1:00 pm Saturday at the Q Center.  The opposition will be the Burnaby Lakers as the Rocks put their undefeated record on the line.