Lakers must learn the lessons from Game 1

Learn from Game 1 mistakes

 

Chalk up Burnaby's 9-6 opening semi-final playoff loss to the Victoria Shamrocks as a learning moment.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="400"] Tyler Richards had a sterling outing in goal for Burnaby in Game 1 of the WLA playoffs. Garrett James photo[/caption]

The senior A Lakers needed a perfect start to the Western Lacrosse Association post season but failed in three key areas that gave the home team Shamrocks the edge they needed to take Game 1 of the seven-game series.

The first was Burnaby surrender of the game's first three goals in the opening six minutes and it took a full 20 minutes before the Lakers finally knotted the score 3-3 on a power play with Robert Church's second goal of the game.

With Tyler Richards taking over the cage from starter Zac Boychuk, the Lakers appeared to play some of their best lacrosse from midway through the first period and into the final frame.

Justin Salt retied the contest 4-4 for Burnaby late in the middle stanza and first-year Lakers Eli McLaughlin and rookie Josh Byrne counted a goal apiece to give Burnaby its first and only lead in the game to start the third period.

The second and third missteps came in the final 10 minutes of the game, when league scoring champion Rhys Duch led an unanswered four-goal Victoria rally to win the playoff series opener at the Q Center.

Duch led all scorers with eight points, including five goals – two of them coming in Victoria's quick first-period start.

Burnaby got the playoff goalkeeping it needed, with Richards earning the game's third star following a sparkling 40-save performance and a game-best 0.870 save percentage.

Game 2 of the series will be played at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre on Thursday, Aug. 11. Game time is 7:45 p.m.

In the other semi, Maple Ridge stole Game 1 on the road, upsetting the New Westminster Salmonbellies 13-9 at Queen's Park.

 For the game summary between Burnaby and Victoria, click here: