It was an opening weekend the PoCo Saints would rather forget.
The Saints lost both of their first two games to start their BC Junior A Lacrosse League schedule. They followed up a 7-4 loss to the New Westminster Salmonbellies in their home opener on Friday with a 14-8 loss to the Victoria Shamrocks at the Q Centre on Saturday.
The Saints may have had a little trouble getting their land legs back after the ferry ride to Vancouver Island, as spotted the Shamrocks a 4-0 advantage before the game was even five minutes old. Ben Preston opened the scoring for the home team just 45 seconds in, when he converted a passing play from Intermediate A call-up Brody Black and Braylon Lumb. In fact, Lumb was in on all of the Shamrocks’ first four goals as he sandwiched his own marker between assists to Cole Pickup and Preston’s second of the period.
The Saints - check that, Daylan Kellough - fought gamely back. Kellough scored three times, twice on the power play, to get back to within a goal of the Shamrocks with 3:39 left in the opening frame.
Less than a minute later Griffin Wilson scored to put the Shamrocks up by two, then Sklyer Wilson beat Saints’ starting goalie Karter Williams with just five seconds left in the first period.
After Pickup scored his second of the game just over five minutes into the second period to build the Shamrocks’ advantage to 7-3, the Saints seemed to find their game. Graydon Bradley and the Shamrocks’ Brian Robb exchanged goals just 18 seconds apart, the PoCo went on a three-goal run to pull back within a goal with less than four minutes left in the second period. One of those goals was Kellough’s fourth of the game.
But that would be as close as the visitors got. The Shamrocks scored the next six goals to win going away.
Kellough’s four goals led the Saints while Junior B call-up Chris Reid contributed a goal and three assists.
Against the Salmonbellies, the Saints held a 3-2 lead in the second period before goals by Connor Mcneill and Will Malcom 1:06 apart put the visitors in front.
Sam Degroot tied it 5:47 into the third with his second goal of the game, but the ‘bellies replied with three unanswered goals to land the victory.
Tempers flared midway through the second period when the Salmonbellies’ Cole Bevan answered a check from behind by the Saints’ Nick Agnoletto with a high stick, then squared off in a fight. Both were assessed penalties for the initial infractions, then tossed from the game for the fight.
The Saints will try to reverse their early-season misfortune on Thursday, when they visit the Langley Thunder at the Langley Events Centre.
• The Coquitlam Adanacs won their second game of the season, beating the visiting Victoria Shamrocks 9-7 on Sunday at the Coquitlam Sports Centre. Dennon Armstrong and Intermediate A pick-up Jalen Chaster led the home team with two goals and an assist each. Keeper Christian Del Bianco stopped 43 of the 50 shots he faced.
The Adanacs will have time to savour their two-game winning streak; they don’t play again until next Wednesday, when they host the Thunder at the Sports Centre.
