Shorthanded goals proved the Burnaby Lakers' undoing in Game 2 of the Western Lacrosse Association semifinal playoff with Victoria.
The visiting senior A Shamrocks scored two of their short-man markers in a turnaround third period to defeat the upset-minded Lakers 12-11 at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre on Wednesday.
Leading 6-3 late in the opening period, Burnaby allowed an unassisted goal by Cory Conway in the final second of the period.
Victoria chipped away at the lead in the middle frame, shaving the deficit to 8-7 after Burnaby failed to take advantage of a fiveminute checking major to Tyler Haas.
Robert Church led off the final period with his second of three goals in a seven-point effort to reestablish Burnaby's twogoal advantage.
Church currently leads all playoff scorers with six goals and six assists in his first two games, sporting a sizzling 60 per cent scoring average.
But Victoria answered with five goals in a sevenminute span, before the Lakers responded with two late counters with goalie Dan Lewis on the bench for an extra sixth attacker.
Junior callup Jesse King scored Victoria's go-head marker midway through the third, taking a perfect pass from teammate Karsen Leung and beating Lewis on a crossing pattern at 13 minutes with his second goal of the game. Jeff Shattler, who tallied two of Victoria's shorthanded markers and was in on three of the team's five third-period goals, led the 'Rocks with a six-point night.
Dane Stevens registered a hat trick in a five-point night for Burnaby. Linemate Scott Jones also garnered five points, including the Lakers' 7-5 goal on a power play.
Jason Jones also scored two goals for the Lakers.
Burnaby showed that willingness to play through those few moments of lost focus. But being able to hold on to a lead in the playoffs is still a learning process for the young Lakers.
"We have to win on the road eventually, and now is the best time to do it. It's not over yet," said Jason Jones. "Bear Mountain is a good place to play - a good atmosphere."
Burnaby is in Victoria tonight (Friday). Game 4 is back at the Copeland centre on Sunday at 7:45 p.m.
