CALGARY, AB — The final week of the regular season has come and gone in the Western Lacrosse Association (WLA).
While only three games were on the schedule, they carried with them some playoff ramifications.
Each of the four playoff teams had already been decided, but the battle for first place in the league was up for grabs.
And the Victoria Shamrocks were gunning for it.
Down two points to the New Westminster Salmonbellies and with two games to play, the Shamrocks would need to win out to claim sole possession of the top spot.
First on the ‘Rocks schedule was the Nanaimo Timbermen. Veteran lefty Jeff Shattler earned the game’s second star as he netted one goal and three assists in an 11-8 win.
Fellow Roughnecks’ Jon Harnett and Tyler Burton both found their names penned on the scoresheet. Burton also helped his team’s cause by winning 11 of 15 face-offs. Greg Harnett may not have recorded points, but he was present on the penalty summary, getting nabbed for high sticking.
The next day, with first place on the line, the Shamrocks battled the Coquitlam Adanacs.
The Adanacs gave the Shamrocks a run for their money, but they would come up short as Victoria was victorious 11-8.
Shattler was, once again, in the zone offensively. The former NLL MVP scored four goals in the game, tying a game high in goals in Jesse King.
Greg Harnett and Burton each added an assist in the contest, while Jon Harnett was blanked.
With the win, the Shamrocks locked up top spot heading into the playoffs and changed up the match-ups for round one of the post-season. Victoria will go to battle against Tyler Digby and the Burnaby Lakers.
In the other game of the final week, the Maple Ridge Burrards were trying to cement their place in the standings as third place team heading into the playoffs.
The big man between the pipes, Frankie Scigliano was spectacular in his post-season tune-up. He allowed only four goals, making 25 stops in just under 60 minutes.
With two points earned and third place secured, the Burrards will face the New Westminster Salmonbellies in the first round. That will be a very tough match-up between Roughnecks teammates’, Scigliano and Brandon Goodwin.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Burnaby Lakers vs. Victoria Shamrocks — Aug. 9th
Maple Ridge Burrards vs. New Westminster Salmonbellies — Aug. 9th
Victoria Shamrocks vs. Burnaby Lakers — Aug. 11th
Burnaby Lakers vs. Victoria Shamrocks — Aug. 12th
New Westminster Salmonbellies vs. Maple Ridge Burrards — Aug. 12th
Maple Ridge Burrards vs. New Westminster Salmonbellies— Aug. 13th
Victoria Shamrocks vs. Burnaby Lakers — Aug. 14th
STANDINGS
Teams Win Loss Tie Points
Victoria Shamrocks 14 4 0 28
New Westminster Salmonbellies 12 4 2 26
Maple Ridge Burrards 11 6 1 23
Burnaby Lakers 10 7 1 21
Coquitlam Adanacs 7 11 0 14
Nanaimo Timbermen 4 14 0 8
Langley Thunder 3 15 0 6
