Victoria Shamrocks host Burnaby for game 2 of the WLA semi-finals on Saturday

Burnaby Lakers at Victoria Shamrocks Semi-Final game 2 preview

Saturday August 5th, 6pm, The Q Centre

Victoria leads best of 7 series 1-0

Written by Justis Doucet

Victoria - If you like goals, this is the series for you, the Shamrocks and Lakers are two of the three highest scoring teams in the league, and they also hold all three spots on the podium in league scoring leaders. Each team has two of the league’s top five regular season scorers, Victoria has runaway scoring champion Corey Small and his eighty-eight points, along with fifth place finisher Casey Jackson, while Eli McLaughlin and Robert Church occupy spots two and three for Burnaby.

In game one without two of their top right handed forwards in Rhys Duch and Joe Resetarits, the Shamrocks prevailed 9-8 against a Burnaby squad that they had fallen to twice in the previous two weeks. Stepping up in the absence was former Laker Casey Jackson, who scored twice in the first 2 minutes, as part of a four goal night.

The Shamrocks were also without defenders Tyler Hass, both Jon and Greg Harnett, and Ben McCullough, but Stone Cold Aaron Bold came to play. He shut out the Lakers in the first period, stopping all seventeen shots he saw in the stanza. Bold finished as the game's third star, stopping forty-one shots in the win.

The Shamrocks, whose depth is their biggest advantage, showed that they can dive into the Junior A ranks and fill the holes with players that can contribute. Danny Smith, a defender from the Junior 'Rocks scored his first WLA goal in the second period. Brad McCulley was also strong up front. Corey Small lead the WLA in goals with thirty-eight but showed he can play distributor as well, Small scored the Shamrocks third goal of the game, but recorded five assists, as he was in on six of nine goals.

Tickets are available from victoriashamrocks.com, by calling 250-478-7625 and at the arena at noon on game day.

Burnaby Lakers Scouting Report:

The Lakers have one of the most potent offences in the league, scoring the most goals in the regular season at 188. They are led by the second and third highest scorers in the league in Eli McLaughlin and Robert Church, who finished with sixty-seven and sixty-five points respectively. Burnaby is also very strong on the back end, allowing just 144 goals this season, the least in the league. Eric Penney led the WLA in both goals against average (7.02) and save percentage (.856) in the regular season.

Pay Per View: http://wlalacrosse.com/view/wla/wla-tv

Live game stats: http://westernlacrosse.wttstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=3170678

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 3 in best of 7 series): Monday August 7th, 6pm at Bill Copeland arena

Next HOME game (Game 4 in the best of 7 series): Wednesday August 9th, 6pm, The Q Centre, Tickets at victoriashamrocks.com, by calling 250-478-7625, team store at 967 Langford Parkway or the arena at noon on game day.