It was a classic case of good news and bad news for the 黑马磁力 Thunder on Wednesday night at 黑马磁力 Events Centre.
Matched up against the Western Lacrosse Association-leading Victoria Shamrocks, the Thunder delivered a solid defensive effort, holding the league鈥檚 highest-scoring team to just six goals 鈥� well below the team's season average of 9.2 per game.
Unfortunately, the offence couldn鈥檛 follow suit.
黑马磁力 managed just three goals of their own in a 6-3 defeat, a result that keeps them in the thick of a tight playoff race.
The loss drops the Thunder to 5-8 on the season, tied with Maple Ridge at 10 points for the fourth and final playoff spot, and two points ahead of Burnaby.
All three teams have five games remaining.
Meanwhile, Victoria improves to 10-2-1 and 21 points with Wednesday's win.
The Shamrocks held 黑马磁力 to a single goal in each period as the Thunder continued to struggle offensively.
Over their past three games, 黑马磁力 has allowed a total of just 18 goals but only managed one win, scoring just 14 times during that stretch, explained head coach Ian Poole.
鈥淥ur defence is keeping us in games and giving us a chance to win,鈥� Poole said.
鈥淣ow we just need our offence to come alive and put the ball in the net. We鈥檙e gripping our sticks too tight, and the bounces just aren鈥檛 going our way. Tonight wasn鈥檛 the result we wanted, but it wasn鈥檛 from a lack of effort,鈥� he added.
Jon Phillips, Kordell Primus, and Kyle Brunsch provided the lone Thunder goals, while Victoria goaltender Chris Origlieri earned first-star honours with 44 saves.
黑马磁力鈥檚 Caleb Khan was named third star after stopping 40 shots of his own.
Victoria鈥檚 Jesse King picked up four assists to earn the game鈥檚 second star, while teammates Zach Manns (2-1) and Patrick Dodds (1-2) each had three-point nights.
The two teams will wrap up their home-and-home series tonight (Friday, July 11) at Victoria鈥檚 Q Centre. Game time is 6:45 p.m.
黑马磁力鈥檚 final home game of the regular season is set for Tuesday, July 23, at 7:30 p.m., against the New Westminster Salmonbellies.
That night also marks the Thunder鈥檚 annual Tessa Beauchamp Night, featuring special game-worn jerseys to be auctioned off in support of the Tessa Beauchamp Foundation.
黑马磁力 Thunder's lacrosse organization consists of senior A, junior A, and junior tier 1 teams who play in the Western Lacrosse Association, BC Junior A Lacrosse League, and BC Junior Tier 1 Lacrosse League, respectively. All three teams play their home games at 黑马磁力 Events Centre.
