Shamrocks ride better start to easy win over Langley

VICTORIA 12 LANGLEY 3

It was a much better start and finish for the Victoria Shamrocks, who opened up a 3-0 lead and never looked back in an easy 12-3 win over the Langley Thunder on Friday night in Western Lacrosse Association play at The Q Centre.

The win snaps a two-game losing streak in which the locals fell behind early twice.

“Way better start. I just challenged the guys before the game to be better, in all aspects of the game. From the start of the game and from our goaltending out,” Shamrocks head coach Bob Heyes said.

It didn’t take long for the Shamrocks to get going, despite being without Cory Conway, who led the league in assists.

Rhys Duch corralled a Chris Wardle pass and went over top of goalie Brodie MacDonald just 2:22 in. Jeff Shattler’s shot, off the goaltender's crest, bounced down and trickled through for a 2-0 advantage at 4:52.

Greg Harnett then kept the ball on a 2-on-0 to deke MacDonald to his top left at 7:01 and the Shamrocks were on their way.

Victoria netminder Cody Hagedorn also make a superb stop off Mitch McMichael after the second goal to get everyone, including the roughly 2,000 fans, into the game early. He also stoned Brandon Clelland in tight before James Rahe finally beat him at 15:51 of the first period.

Duch finished with four goals and five assists. Ian McShane, who joined the Shamrocks from the East Coast this season at the recommendation of former ’Rock, Chet Koneczny, also had a hat trick and two helpers. Shattler added two goals and two assists.

Greg Harnett had a strong game with a goal and a helper and was his usual miserable self on defence, silencing the Thunder, who fall to 0-4. He was tossed from the game in the second period for instigating and fighting as he collected a Gordie Howe hat trick on the day Mr. Hockey passed away.

Paul Brebber, Wardle and Ben McCullough (who returned from injury) scored for Victoria. Tom Arsenault slid into his first game.

MacDonald — who snapped, flipped over his net and hammered his goal stick to bits on the end boards several times before being ejected after the last goal — faced 48 shots, while Hagedorn stopped 26.

Victoria is slated to travel to Maple Ridge on Sunday night.