Shamrocks down 2-1 in WLA finals after overtime loss on Sunday

  Maple Ridge Burrards 14 @ Victoria Shamrocks 11 OT

Shamrocks down 2-1 in WLA finals after overtime loss on Sunday

 

Written by: Lucas Wilson

Game Three of the WLA championship returned to the Q Centre on Sunday night with the Victoria Shamrocks and Maple Ridge Burrards tied at a game apiece. The Shamrocks came out firing in the first period, but eventually the game turned into a back-and-forth shootout. Three periods of regulation solved nothing, and the game went to overtime with the teams tied at 11. Maple Ridge scored three goals in overtime, and they took Game Three by a final score of 14-11.

The Shamrocks came out quick in the first period scoring the first five goals of the game. Jeff Shattler scored two, and Cole Pickup, Chris Wardle, and Cory Conway each added one. Dan Taylor would add a late goal for the Burrards, which made it a 5-1 game heading into the second.

The intensity picked up in the second period. Two quick goals by the Burrards, made it a two-goal game, but Jeff Shattler responded with another two quick goals of his own to extend the lead. After Rhys Duch extended the lead to four, Taylor and Riley Loewen added goals for Maple Ridge to make it a two-goal game at the end of forty minutes. The second period featured a combined 16 penalties including 6 majors. Like most playoff matchups, this series has begun to develop some tension, and it was evident on Sunday night.

The Burrards tied the game six minutes into the third period. The energy intensified in the Q Centre as Maple Ridge and Victoria began a back and forth battle. Ethan Garland scored for the Shamrocks, but Connor Goodwin came back right away for the Burrards. It looked like the Shamrocks would be able to pull ahead late on goals from Duch and Corey Small, but the Burrards tallied two goals with the goalie pulled to tie the game and send it to overtime. The Burrards scored three goals in overtime to take the game 14-11.

Despite the loss, Shamrocks Nation was treated to playoff lacrosse at its best. The crowd was fired up, and the back-and-forth nature of the game provided great entertainment. There were some impressive offensive performances of note in the game as well. Small and Conway both finished with seven points, and Duch and Shattler both had five. Game Four goes back to Maple Ridge on Tuesday night, and Game Five is back in Victoria on Wednesday.

Tickets can be purchased at the tickets tab above, calling 250-478-ROCK (7625) or at the team store located at #120-967 Langford Parkway.

 

Complete game stats: http://www.victoriashamrocks.com/stats/game//307/league/86018

Shamrocks playoff stats: http://www.wlalacrosse.com/stats/team/62/307/league//8071

WLA playoff leaders:http://www.wlalacrosse.com/stats/leaders?gametype=playoff

Next Game: (Away) Tuesday, August 30, Victoria at Maple Ridge, 7:45pm, Cam Neely arena