NANAIMO 11 VICTORIA 9
It is getting serious early for the Victoria Shamrocks.
“We are playing playoff lacrosse in July, and that’s not ideal, but it’s where we’re at,” said Shamrocks head coach Mike Simpson.
The Shamrocks slide to their fourth consecutive loss in the Western Lacrosse Association in dropping the Island derby 11-9 to the rising Nanaimo Timbermen on Friday night at the Q Centre. Nanaimo, which last year made its first WLA finals appearance since 1968, moved to 7-4 while the annually contending Shamrocks fell to an uncharacteristic 4-5-1.
Simpson isn’t hiding behind the team’s youthful rebuild as an excuse: “I have to put us in a better position to succeed. We have to figure some stuff out.
“It’s incumbent on me to make a few adjustments. Confidence is lacking and the guys are gripping the stick a bit and getting frustrated. Attention to detail is slipping.”
Nanaimo goals by Taggart Clark, to complete his hat-trick, Jerrett Smith and Zach Manns in the third period broke open an 8-8 tie. Manns, a former Victoria Junior Shamrocks standout, had two goals and four assists.
The six-foot-two Manns, out of NCAA Division 1 Drexel and a pro in the NLL with Toronto Rock, pushed his WLA-leading totals in all offensive categories to 30 goals, 30 assists and 60 points.
Tom Vaesen led the Shamrocks with a hat-trick and four points. Marshal King added four assists and Patrick Dodds, Brad McCulley, Cole Pickup, Ryan McLean, Steve Priolo and Dallas Wade one goal each.
Timbermen goaltender Devlin Shanahan stymied the Shamrocks’ shooters with a 46-save performance. Pete Dubenski made 30 saves in goal for the Shamrocks.
The task doesn’t get any easier for the Shamrocks on Wednesday night at the Langley Events Centre against the league-leading Thunder (9-1). The Timbermen will host the last-place Coquitlam Adanacs (1-8) on Saturday at Frank Crane Arena.
WORLDS ON THE FIELD: The U.S. defeated Canada, with defender Casey Wilson of the Shamrocks, 10-7 in the 2023 world field-lacrosse championship game in San Diego on Saturday.
