The Victoria Shamrocks have been one of the top teams in the Western Lacrosse Association all season, but now they can’t catch the Langley Thunder. With one game remaining, what is the mind set of the team?“The main goal for this team is to be ready for the playoffs.” says goaltender Matt Flindell. “Home floor advantage is important but being healthy and peaking at the right time is more important.”
The Burnaby Lakers have two games left and have 18 points; the Shamrocks have one game remaining and 20 points, so the Lakers could catch them for second place. the Shamrocks last game of the season is on Friday against the Nanaimo Timbermen.
“With our game against Nanaimo we need to come out strong, last two years we have limped into the playoffs after losing to Nanaimo to end the season.” said Flindell. “We are coming off two strong games and need to keep building to be ready for payoffs.”
The Shamrocks have made many moves since last season, adding Jon Harnett at the trade deadline and before the season, Scott Ranger and Matt Vinc. Vinc, the reigning NLL goalie of the year and NLL champion, has been starting over Flindell, but says that he has learned a lot from Vinc.
“It has been an adjustment with all the new players but most have played together whether in NLL or back east. And we brought in a pressure D system this year which is different then what most Victoria guys have played before.
“Playing with Matt has been a great experience, he is definitely a true professional and a competitor. We have different styles but I have been trying to learn things from how he plays.”
The Shamrocks last game is Friday night against Nanaimo, and it could be the difference between home floor in the playoffs. Stay tuned for coverage of that game and the final playoff stretch in the WLA this week.
