GAME RECAP: Adanacs take Game 1 with strong offensive performance

14  10

The floodgates opened at the Coquitlam Sports Centre on Saturday as the Adanacs got off to a successful start to their Minto Cup title defence by beating the Victoria Shamrocks 14-10. 

Coquitlam was paced by a pair of six-point games from trade deadline pickup Baden Boyenko (3 G, 3 A) and Dennon Armstrong (1 G, 5 A) and also got a hat-trick out of Colin Munro. It was a strong start for the Adanacs, who were coming off a brief layoff to play a team who had already played a high-stakes playoff game. 

Victoria got off to a strong start and went into the first intermission only down 4-2, what can only be described as a good road period. But the A's defence made it difficult to score, forcing Victoria to put up a lot of outside shots and all but locking them down at 5-on-5. Brad McCulley and Nick Preston did pot a pair on the power play in the middle frame, but the team still trailed by four. 

The possibility of a comeback was sparked by another McCulley goal just over a minute into the third period, but a three-goal run out of Coquitlam's Koswin, Ticehurst and Scanlon put the game all but out of reach. McCulley would again pull the game within three with just over five minutes to go, but that was as close as they would come.

Victoria will hope for some home cookin' tomorrow when the A's take the boat over to the Island. They went 8-3 at The Q Centre during the regular season, with one of those losses coming at the hands of the purple and gold. It's often tough to win on the road in the playoffs, and when you throw in the uncertainty of playing on the Island, today's game could be truly up for grabs. 

THREE STARS

1ST STAR - BADEN BOYENKO, COQUITLAM ADANACS (3 G, 3 A) - The Saskatchewan product has been money for the Adanacs since coming over for a Minto run. He had a stellar start to his BCJALL playoff career, adding three assists on top of a hat-trick. He also scored all three goals short-handed. 

2ND STAR - COLIN MUNRO, COQUITLAM ADANACS (3 G, 2 A) - Munro has been an awesome playoff performer in his time in the BCJALL. He's up over two points per game in 15 career games (12 G, 22 A) and had a statement game on Saturday, potting three himself. 

3RD STAR - BRAD MCCULLEY, VICTORIA SHAMROCKS (3 G, 1 A) - One of the best Shamrocks on the floor, McCulley impresses every time you watch him and always finds a unique way to put the ball in the net. He had a strong game and his two final two goals both kept Victoria in the game. 

BOXSCORE: http://www.bcjall.com/stats#/23/game/126446/boxscore?season_id=613

Victoria hosts the top-seeded A's on Sunday afternoon at 2 at The Q Centre. You can stream the game live on PPV at playfullscreen.com. 

BCJALL.com is the home for all your playoff lacrosse coverage this summer.