BCJALL 
OFFICIAL SITE OF THE
VICTORIA SHAMROCKS
JUNIOR A LACROSSE
Shamrocks Drop Game 1 of Minto Final
The Victoria Shamrocks were definitely in hostile territory as they faced the Calgary Raiders in game 1 of the best-of-3 Minto Cup final. Despite being down 5-1 at one point, they battled back to within a goal twice before finally falling 9-7 to the host club.
Starting goaltenders were Greyson Beggs for Victoria and Nathan Whittom for Calgary. Luke McNamara opened the scoring for the Raiders at 5:08 on a freak goal after Beggs made the save but somehow knocked the ball in. Victoria captain Greysen Thompson tied the score at 6:21, getting in close. Calgary regained the lead at 7:05 on another weird goal as the ball came off the end boards and bounced off a Victoria defender’s back. It was credited to Brimley Wilson. Brody Tweit added another for Calgary at 16:49 on a run. That sent the teams to the dressing room with the Raiders ahead 3-1.
McNamara again scored first in period 2 with an extra attacker on the floor on a delayed penalty to the Shamrocks at 9:11. Cohen Fluet made it a 4-goal Calgary lead at 13:34 on a backhander from inside the dotted line. Then it was Victoria’s turn to score a weird goal. Whittom left the Raiders’ crease on an erroneous assumption that a Victoria penalty was being called. It wasn’t. Quinn Cramb managed to pick up the ball and rambled the length of the floor for an unassisted goal into the empty net at 15:18. Ryan Lowe added another for the Shamrocks at 16:47 on a side-arm shot from outside the dotted line and Carter Quested drew the Rocks within a goal with 25 ticks left on the clock. The score after 40 minutes was 5-4 for Calgary.
Wyatt Viste scored for the Raiders at 4:40 of the final frame with a quick stick in close but Lowe replied for the Shamrocks with his second of the game at 5:23 cutting to the net. Calgary picked up the next two goals, Cole Morris tallying at 7:54 cutting in and McNamara picking up the hat trick off a rebound in front at 8:33 to open up an 8-5 lead. Once again Victoria responded with a pair of their own, Phillip Busenius getting the dunk from behind the net at 10:08 and Marcelo Carreiro cutting to the net at 10:43. Cash Frijters scored the final goal of the game at 13:48 and the Raiders managed to run out the clock for the 2-goal win.
Leading Victoria’s offense was Ryan Lowe with a pair of goals. Carter Quested, Phillip Busenius, Greysen Thompson and Marcelo Carreiro each contributed a goal and an assist while Evan Mcdougall had 3 helpers and both Breckyn Williams and Jett Klassen added a pair of assists with Quinn Cramb getting the other Shamrocks goal.
For the Raiders it was Luke McNamara with the hat trick but Dylan Beliveau with 6 assists. Carson Mann added 3 helpers with Wyatt Viste and Cash Frijters each contributing a goal and 1 assist.
Game 2 goes Saturday at 8:00 pm local time (7:00 pm here on the coast) with game 3, if necessary Sunday at 6 pm Calgary time (5 pm on the coast). The final series is webcast free on Lacrosse Canada TV, Link:
- Janice Huckin