Shamrocks let top spot slip away

There will be a new Western Lacrosse Association regularseason champion this year.

The Victoria Shamrocks quest for a fifth-consecutive crown fell short with Thursday night’s 19-8 drubbing at the hands of the New Westminster Salmonbellies at Queen’s Park Arena.

New Westminster (11-6-1 for 23 points) won for the fifth consecutive game to close out as the hottest team in the WLA.

Victoria is 10-6-1 for 21 points. Even if the Shamrocks beat the Burnaby Lakers tonight at The Q Centre in their season finale, the Salmonbellies hold the tiebreaker over Victoria.

The Shamrocks can finish anywhere from second to fourth place, depending on the result of tonight’s final game against Burnaby (9-5-1 for 19 points, with three games remaining).

Although the playoff teams have been decided — New Westminster, Victoria, Burnaby and Maple Ridge Burrards — the seedings remain far from certain.

The Nanaimo Timbermen, for the 10th consecutive season, Langley Thunder and Coquitlam Adanacs will miss the 2017 postseason dance.

Joe Resetarits led Victoria with three goals Thursday, while Evan Messenger and Steve Priolo scored twice each. Tyler Hass had one goal and Mike Triolo four assists and Corey Small and Casey Jackson three assists each. Mitch Jones led the ’Bellies with four goals and seven points.

Aaron Bold and Cody Hagedorn faced 60 shots in goal for Victoria and Alexis Buque 48 for New Westminster.

The two best-of-seven, firstround, semifinal playoff series will begin Aug. 3 with the fourth seed visiting the top seed and the third seed playing at the second seed. The venues will alternate with the remaining first-four game dates Aug. 5, Aug. 7 and Aug. 9.

All first-round games will begin at 6 p.m.