Connor Robinson scored a hat-trick and had seven points Friday night in the Victoria Shamrocks’ 14-2 Western Lacrosse Association victory over the Coquitlam Adanacs. But it was a shot he missed that was the most talked about of the night at The Q Centre.
Robinson’s second-period howitzer off the crossbar rebounded high and hard to dislodge two panels off the scoreboard video screen high above centre floor.
“That’s the first time I’ve broken the scoreboard,” said Robinson, with a chuckle.
“I put the blame on Kinger [Jesse King, who passed him the ball on the power play].”
Robinson, on loan for the season from the also-ran Langley Thunder, was part of the big trade that brought him and Tyler Pace over from Langley for rookie standout Keegan Bell.
Former B.C. Junior A MVP Robinson, as a call-up from the New Westminster Junior Salmonbellies, helped the senior ’Bellies defeat the Shamrocks in the 2017 WLA final.
“It was kind of weird at first to put on the Shamrocks jersey but you get used to it,” said the NLL pro with the Saskatchewan Rush, and first-overall selection in the 2018 WLA draft.
“We are playing with cohesion and playing so well together. All five guys on the floor on offence at any time are a threat.
Victoria goaltender Pete Dubenski played 42 minutes and 51 seconds of shutout lacrosse and wasn’t beaten until Yuya Okamura scored Coquitlam’s first goal at 2:09 of the third period.
“It’s great playing behind an incredible defence like that. It [shutout] is always in the back of your mind in a situation like that, but you just play and stay focused,” said Dubenski.
Victoria head coach Bob Heyes said everybody in the room was thinking about the possibility, but, “nobody mentioned the S-word during the break at the end of the second period,” said Heyes.
King had four goals on a seven-point night. Chris Wardle, Pace and rookie Chris Boushy each had two goals. Adrian Sorichetti added a goal and rookie Larson Sundown three assists.
The result left the Shamrocks (10-5) in a first-place tie with the Burnaby Lakers (10-6) with Victoria holding a game in hand. The Lakers and Shamrocks meet Sunday evening at The Q Centre in a key contest.
