Shamrocks’ strength gives ’Bellies headache
Not only do the New Westminster Salmonbellies have their hands full offensively in finding a way to beat Victoria Shamrocks goaltender Aaron Bold, they also desperately need to clamp down defensively.
There is plenty of room for improvement in both areas, said head coach Steve Goodwin, who is focusing on Game 2 of the best-of-seven Western Lacrosse Association championship final at Queen’s Park Arena on Monday at 6:30 p.m.
Beaten 11-3 in the opener at The Q Centre on Friday, Goodwin’s defence and goaltending was shredded by two mainstays in the Shamrocks’ offence, Corey Small and Rhys Duch.
“We knew that against Maple Ridge they had the majority of their team’s goals and I know [Friday] they did again. We will talk about it as a defence and as a team and we will be better next game,” Goodwin said.
Small had four goals and four assists and Duch had four goals and three assists.
During the regular season, Small led the WLA in points with 79, just ahead of Duch’s 75. The two finished tied in points the previous 2014 season, with 76 apiece.
So far this 2015 playoff campaign, they are at the top of the points race, Small being No. 1 in points (31) and goals (17), ahead of Duch’s 27 points and 15 goals.
“They just continue to do what they do,” Shamrocks head coach Bob Heyes said of his pair. “I have not seen Rhys Duch play this focused and with, I don’t want to say intensity, but drive. There is that inner drive that he knows where we’ve been the last two years and I think, at times, he’s going to put this team on his shoulders to carry it through. He’s focused and he’s driven, and when he drives the net, it’s tough for anybody to stop him. He and Smallsy also have this neat chemistry and that comes from building a relationship off the floor, and they’re doing really well.”
They will have to continue it on the Salmonbellies’ floor for Game 2 before returning to The Q Centre for Game 3 on Wednesday at 7:45 p.m.
“It’s a smaller floor. We’ve been playing well there for the last month and a bit, and it seems to make a difference for us,” said Goodwin, whose Salmonbellies have won five straight at home.
“It’s a different game when we get over to their barn. We have to be ready,” said Heyes. “They’re going to keep coming. They’re going to change a few things up, I’m sure. We’re going to have a different lineup and they might have a different lineup as well.”
New West was minus key players in Jeff Cornwall and Curtis Hodgson in Game 1. The Shamrocks remain without Greg Harnett (head injury) and the status of Jesse King will not be known until Monday as he rolled his ankle early in Game 1.