COQUITLAM 10 VICTORIA 9 (OT) (Adanacs lead series 3-2)
The Coquitlam Adanacs got a little payback on the Victoria Shamrocks on Tuesday night, stealing a 10-9 overtime win at Bear Mountain Arena to secure a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Western Lacrosse Association semifinal series.
They can finish off the Shamrocks tonight back on the Mainland at 7: 45. If a Game 7 is required, it goes Sunday night at 7: 45 back in Victoria.
"It hurts," said Shamrocks assistant coach Dave Lowdon, after his team failed to hang on to an 8-5 lead just under five minutes into the third period.
It was the Shamrocks who pulled off an 11-8 overtime win on Sunday night to tie the series up at 2-2.
A third straight win was not in the works for the Shamrocks, who wasted a wonderful effort from Derek Lowe, who had three goals and four assists in the loss.
"We did so many things well tonight," said Lowdon. "Derek sacrificing himself, going to the net, played a fantastic game and Levy [goaltender Chris Levis] making some big stops.
Unfortunately, we just came out second.
"The boys played their hearts out so we have to take this now and go into Coquitlam and play a full 60 minutes."
Mark Negrin had the overtime winner 8: 26 into the 10-minute session, but it was Dane Dobbie who was a one-man wrecking crew with five goals. Ryan Johnson and Kevin Olson had two each for Coquitlam.
Momentum has now swung back in the Adanacs' favour.
The Shamrocks were coming off a thrilling overtime in which Lowe had forced the extra session with 1.9 seconds remaining on Sunday, beating outstanding goaltender and league most valuable player Nick Rose in the Coquitlam net.
Rose tweeted: "1.9 seconds will not define our season. Sometimes ya get unlucky. Can't let up on a great team even for a moment. Can't wait for Tuesday."
He was right, but it took some doing.
Ryan Benesch's late goal, with just 2.1 seconds remaining in the second period, gave the Shamrocks their first two-goal lead of the game at 7-5.
It was something to build on, but it was Lowe's third of the night that the fans were buzzing about. On a gutsy effort, Lowe took the abuse of a pair of Adanacs' defenders, rounded the net and tucked the ball behind Rose to make it 8-5. They failed to hang on though.
Corey Small, named a first-team all-star earlier in the week, had a goal and five assists for the Shamrocks.
Karsen Leung had two goals, while Mitch McLaren (on a power-play breakaway) and Matt Lyons had the others.
Victoria led 3-2 and 7-5 by periods and out-shot Coquitlam 64-49, but they're on the ropes now and need a win tonight to extend the series, which has been a physical affair.
The Langley Thunder, who finished first in the regular-season and swept Burnaby in four straight, await the winner of this series.
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