The Victoria Shamrocks held on for a dramatic 9-8 win despite a late New Westminster comeback attempt in the third period on Friday night.
Victoria scored three unanswered goals in the third period to build a 9-7 lead. Toru Morimatsu scored with the extra attacker late in the game for the Salmonbellies, but New Westminster couldn’t find the equalizer.
Victoria continues to hold onto first place in the WLA standings with a 10-2 record behind a five-point performance from Zach Manns. He finished with a hat trick and two assists. Marshal King had two goals and two assists, while Luke Pilcher added two goals and an assist.
Chris Origlieri backstopped the Shamrocks to the win, making 45 saves on 53 shots.
For the Salmonbellies, Noah Armitage had two goals and two assists, while Morimatsu scored a hat trick. Linkin Twamley, Owen Rahn, and Will Mackay also scored for New Westminster.
First Period
The teams traded punches throughout the opening 20 minutes.
Armitage opened the scoring just 27 seconds into the game, but Pilcher answered on the power play less than two minutes later. King gave Victoria its first lead just 17 seconds after that.
Morimatsu pulled the Salmonbellies even at 2-2 midway through the period, only for Manns to restore the Shamrocks’ advantage.
Mackay capped the back-and-forth first period by tying the game 3-3 with just over seven minutes remaining before the first intermission.
Second Period
The Shamrocks seized momentum in the second period by scoring the first two goals.
Manns struck for his second of the night before Pilcher extended the lead to 5-3 with just under 12 minutes remaining in the period.
The Salmonbellies responded in the closing minutes. Rahn cut the deficit to one with 2:28 left before Morimatsu scored just 42 seconds later to knot the game at 5-5 heading into the third.
Third Period
The final period featured another momentum swing as the game came right down to the wire.
Armitage gave the Salmonbellies a 6-5 lead just 26 seconds into the third, but Jacob Hickey tied the contest midway through the frame.
Only 19 seconds later, Twamley restored New Westminster’s one-goal advantage at 7-6.
Victoria answered with three straight goals over the final five minutes.
Patrick Dodds tied the game with 4:42 remaining before King put the Shamrocks ahead for good just over a minute later.
Manns completed his hat trick with 1:37 left to make it 9-7.
Morimatsu completed his hat trick with 13 seconds remaining while New Westminster had the extra attacker on the floor. However, the late goal wasn’t enough to complete the New Westminster comeback, as Victoria held on for the 9-8 victory.
Top Scorers
Victoria Shamrocks
- Zach Manns, 3g 2a
- Marshal King, 2g 2a
- Luke Pilcher, 2g 1a
New Westminster Salmonbellies
- Noah Armitage, 2g 2a
- Toru Morimatsu, 3g
- Will Malcom, 3a
Don’t forget to check us out every Sunday night at 8pm (ET)
