Victoria hosts New Westminster on Friday night
Like a fast-food chain, the Victoria Shamrocks (12-2-1) served it up whichever way you like over their last two games. The Western Lacrosse Association co-leaders followed up their biggest offensive output of the season — a 21-9 victory over the Langley Thunder (5-9) last Friday at The Q Centre — with a return to grinding defensive form in a 5-3 victory Tuesday night at Cam Neely Arena against the host Maple Ridge Burrards (5-8-2).
“It was back to stellar goaltending [first-star Chris Origlieri with 43 saves] and defence while our offence struggled to find goals,” said Shamrocks GM Chris Welch, of the latter game in Maple Ridge.
“Every game is so different in this league.”
Two unanswered goals in the third period by Jesse King and Andrew Kew gave Victoria the victory in Maple Ridge.
“They are natural goal scorers and our two big guns came through when we needed them,” said Welch.
Kew, 29, is new to the Shamrocks but not to the sport. The six-foot-three forward from Oakville, Ont., played NCAA field lacrosse at the University of Tampa and plays pro box lacrosse in the winter for the Georgia Swarm of the pro National Lacrosse League. Kew, who uses his reach to advantage, has 273 career points in 57 NLL games for the Swarm, New England Black Wolves and Albany FireWolves. Kew has 21 goals and 17 assists in nine appearances for Victoria heading into Friday night’s key game at The Q Centre against the third-place New Westminster Salmonbellies (10-4).
King is an all-time Shamrocks and pro NLL scoring great out of Claremont Secondary and the NCAA Big Ten Ohio State Buckeyes and has four goals and 13 assists in five games since returning mid-season from injury.
“Jesse is getting back into form for the playoffs,” said Welch.
“Our whole offensive group is capable of scoring and have proven it everywhere they have played. We expected more from the [offensive] group and know there is more there. But it’s also likely the games down the stretch will be tight defensive battles won on the margins.”
The defence rules on this Shamrocks squad in more ways than one. Defender Kyle Pepper had seven goals in the win against Langley last week and has emerged as a surprise offensive threat with 13 goals and 10 assists in 14 games.
A more expected offensive producer for the Shamrocks, Marshal King, is expected to return Friday against New Westminster after going out with injury after accumulating 13 goals and 17 assists in eight games. The last-place Nanaimo Timbermen (2-14), meanwhile, next play on Sunday at Frank Crane Arena against the WLA co-leading Coquitlam Adanacs (12-2-1).
BOXLA BITS:It’s an all-Island derby in the B.C. Junior A Lacrosse League playoff semifinals with the second-seed Victoria Junior Shamrocks (12-5) facing-off against the third-seed Nanaimo Junior Timbermen (11-6).
The Junior ’Rocks won the opening game 10-9 on Tuesday night at The Q Centre. The second game in the best-of-seven series is Friday night at 7 at Frank Crane Arena in the Harbour City and the third game Saturday at 3:30 at The Q Centre.
The other semifinal series pits the regular-season champion (14-3) and defending Minto Cup national champion Coquitlam Junior Adanacs against the fourth-seed Delta Islanders (9-8).
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