Larson Sundown has played in two national lacrosse championships within a year.
The question is: Can he make it a third by helping the Victoria Shamrocks get to the 2019 Mann Cup Canadian Senior ‘A’ final?
A double threat on floor and field, Sundown won the 2018 Minto Cup Canadian Junior ‘A’ championship last summer with the Coquitlam Adanacs, and made the 2019 NCAA Division II championship game this spring with Limestone College in a loss to two-time champion Merrimack at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
“It’s been a good lacrosse year,” Sundown said.
There is every indication it could get even better as Western Lacrosse League rookie Sundown scored four goals in the Shamrocks’ 15-10 victory over the New Westminster Salmonbellies on Friday night at the Q Centre.
Sundown and the Shamrocks (2-4) conclude the weekend by hosting the league-leading Maple Ridge Burrards (6-1) tonight at the Q Centre in a reprise of the 2018 WLA final.
Sundown is from upstate New York, where the field version of the sport is more popular than box, as it is in most of the U.S. where the sport is played
“I prefer box lacrosse,” said Sundown, perhaps against type.
One thing is for sure — he appears comfortable in either version of the sport. “I’ve had a lacrosse stick in my hand since I was three years old,” he said.
Sundown was selected 13th overall in the second round of the 2019 WLA draft.
Shamrocks GM Chris Welch said Victoria might have the steal of the draft.
“We had Sundown rated a lot higher on our board and are surprised, and thrilled, that he fell to us,” Welch said on draft night.
Right back at you, Sundown said on Friday:“I am so pleased to be in Victoria. There is such a rich history of lacrosse here. I love the atmosphere in the [Q Centre].”
The Shamrocks rookie has seven goals in three games since arriving in Victoria from NCAA play.
“He’s a whirling dervish,” Shamrocks head coach Bob Heyes said after Friday’s game.
Sundown deflected the accolades: “The veterans have gotten me the ball in the right positions.”
Tonight is Shamrocks Alumni Night. with the 1979 and 1999 Mann Cup champion teams to be honoured.
