The Baby Rocks continue to cruise along, winning their ninth straight game by handing the second-place Delta Islanders a 12-9 defeat.  The Intermediates were the only one of the three Shamrocks teams to pull off a victory so far this weekend as the Shamrocks saw the end to their 7-game winning streak Friday and the Juniors buckled to Coquitlam Saturday. 

Cory Mayzes started in goal for Victoria with Ben Harris between the pipes for Delta.  The ‘Rocks struck first, Brody Eastwood scoring at 2:27 after a few good saves by Harris very early on.  Delta replied at 6:31, Mike Mallory getting in close and scoring on a power play.  Matt Messenger put the visitors up by a goal at 8:54, a shot that Mayzes got a piece of but it had enough pepper on to carry across the line.  At 10:18, Reg Ferguson scored unassisted and it was 3-1 Delta.  Jake Emms struck back for the home team, firing a high hard one by Harris at 10:47 but another Delta power play at 11:44 restored the two goal lead, Mike Mallory notching his second.  The ‘Rocks didn’t wilt, however, and scored the final two goals of the period which became a 6-goal run through the middle frame.  Christopher Bannister made some good hard work along the boards pay off at 15:56 with an unassisted marker and at 19:34, team captain Jason Gregg put one over Harris and sent the teams to the dressing room knotted at 4-4.  It was a very well-played period by both teams.  Three penalties were called, all to Victoria, resulting in two Delta power play goals.

Period 2 was all Victoria as they scored 6 unanswered goals.  Jesse King found twine at 2:48 to start the party.  At 5:21 it was Ethan Garland reaping the dividends of some great loose ball pursuit and taking a pass from Kurtis Green right in front of the net.  Bannister netted his second of the game at 7:22 off some good transition and that sent Harris to the bench in favour of Jeff Nicola for a couple of goals.  At 11:50 Adam Wallace took an outlet pass from Mayzes and made no mistake from the slot.  Shea Wakefield notched a power play marker at 13:09 and Harris returned to the Delta cage.  Raj Allen rounded out the second period scoring at 18:30 and after 40 minutes it was Victoria 10, Islanders 4.  Both penalties in the period went to the visitors and the Shamrocks capitalized on one of those.

After Cory Mayzes had shut out the Islanders for 31:57 Jamie Takiya finally found a way to the back of the net at 2:41 of the third period.  Just 11 seconds later Jesse Rumeo-Haller added to Delta’s total and cut the Victoria lead to 4 goals.  A Victoria power play goal, off the stick of Kurtis Green at 4:56 put the skids on Delta’s run but only briefly.  Takiya struck for his second at 5:59 picking up a rebound and Mallory added his third at 7:16.  Mayzes went to the bench while Cody Cook warmed up in the Shamrocks net but when play started, the switch was on and Mayzes back in.  Bannister got his hat trick marker for the ‘Rocks, cutting across and beating Harris at 7:44.  There followed a little over 10 minutes of scoreless lacrosse with both goaltenders playing well and featuring some great ragging by Shea Wakefield and Kyle Dexter on a Victoria penalty kill.  Delta managed one more goal at 19:33 but it was too little too late as the Shamrocks held on for the 12-9 victory.

Christopher Bannister led the Shamrocks with a hat trick and 1 assist.  Raj Allen, Kurtis Green, Jason Gregg, Shea Wakefield, Jake Emms, Brody Eastwood, Ethan Garland, Adam Wallace and Jesse King all had singles with Green and King adding 2 helpers and Emms chipping in 3 assists.  Cory Mayzes was solid in goal and also contributed one assist in the victory which was a great win for this young team in some very difficult circumstances. 

For Delta Mike Mallory had the hat trick and Jamie Takiya 2 goals. 

The victory brings Victoria 2 points closer to second-place Delta in the standings.  The Baby Rocks are on the road Sunday to face the South Fraser Stickmen and return home to Bear Mountain next Saturday to take on the Port Coquitlam Saints.  Game time as always is 1:30 pm.