Victoria looks to even the series against the Salmonbellies back on home floor on Friday

New Westminster Salmonbellies at Victoria Shamrocks Game 4 preview

Friday August 25th, 6pm, The Q Centre

New Westminster leads WLA Finals series 2-1

Written by Justis Doucet

Victoria – The Shamrocks look to continue the trend of holding court on their floor in front of their home town fans with Friday night lacrosse back in town. In game two, Victoria used that eight goal run to propel them to a game win in a raucous Q Centre, with all offensive guns a blazing.

The WLA Playoffs have shown though that any team can win on any given night. The Shamrocks have also shown that they have short memories, as they answered a game three loss in Burnaby, similar to the one a few nights ago, in round one with a 12-10 win in a pivotal game four.

Victoria has had success at the Q Centre in the regular season and playoffs, thanks in large part to Shamrocks Nation that fill the arena. The ‘Rocks have are an impressive 9-3-1 record to date at home. 

Corey Small is second in playoffs scoring, trailing only New Westminster’s Mitch Jones, who leads with forty-four points, and twenty-three goals. Casey Jackson now leads Victoria in goals with fourteen in ten games.

On the back end, Goaltender Aaron Bold has kept the games this post season close while facing 370 shots and a save percentage of 83%.

New Westminster Salmonbellies scouting report:

The Shamrocks held Mitch Jones to just one goal in check in game three, but the Salmonbellies depth took over. Logan Schuss scored six goals, Kevin Crowley added another three, and Alexis Buque had an incredible night, allowing just four goals on fifty-six shots in the win. Buque has been the Bellies best player in the series, stopping more than eighty-four percent of shots in the playoffs, 383 of 456.

Tickets for the WLA Finals are on sale HERE, the team store located at 967 Langford Parkway, or over the phone at 250-478-7625. As a reminder, season ticket holders have their seats guaranteed until 5pm the day before the home game.

Watch: Live on Pay Per View at http://wlalacrosse.com/view/wla/wla-tv and rebroadcasted on Tuesday at 7pm on Shaw TV Vancouver Island South

Live game stats: http://westernlacrosse.wttstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=3176449

Playoff stats: http://westernlacrosse.wttstats.pointstreak.com/scoringleaders.html?leagueid=258

Shamrock stats: http://westernlacrosse.wttstats.pointstreak.com/teamplayerstats.html?teamid=673543&seasonid=17341

Next game (AWAY): Game 5, Sunday August 27, 6pm at New Westminster, Queens Park Arena