Shamrocks Rock Saints

Submitted by League Reporter, Jen Mutas

Victoria crossed the water to face Poco on Sunday afternoon knowing their first place rival Coquitlam was making the same trip to challenge Nanaimo. This would be the second time this season the Shamrocks would face Port Coquitlam this season, and had no room for error.

The Shamocks wasted no time in getting on the board offensively, opening with goals from Dylan Benard, Ben Towner, and Nathan Clare; but answering back for Poco was Scott Jones who threw two quick ones past Greg Krstic followed by Keigan Scharnberg. Unfortunately for the Saints they would get caught up in some penalty trouble and Karsen Leung and Scott Stone didn't need convincing to take advantage and give the 'Rocks a 6-3 lead into the first break.

Scoring two goals in the first wasn't enough to satisfy Scott Jones as he scored three more in the middle frame helping the Saints catch up to the Shamrocks but not go ahead. Victoria would find themselves spending more time in the penalty box than scoring goals for the most part of the second period, but the last four minutes was a completely different story. In just under three minutes the Shamrocks scored five goals which was enough to rattle Tyson Cornfield into getting relieved for Mike Lowe between the iron, and the late damage would ensure a comfy 12-8 lead for Victoria heading into the third.

With Cornfield back in, the Saints would get a golden opportunity to shorten the 'Rocks lead with a two man advantage for a full two minutes in the middle of the third, but the Victoria defense was on the ball and barely let Poco get a sniff in the Shamrock zone. Leung would have all day in front of Cornfield to pump fake his way to a shorthanded goal, and Scott Stone had a beauty goal streaking in hard and going behind his back and over his shoulder past Cornfield. In the end those five quick goals at the end of the second more than likely solidified the win for Victoria, with the game ending 15-9 and keeping the 'Rocks level with Coquitlam for first and second place.