Raiders Lose in Penalty Filled Game

Penalties was the story of the game on Friday night as the Kelowna Sr. Raiders lacrosse club let their lead slip away in the third period, as the visiting Armstrong Sr. Shamrocks came back to win 9-7.

The Shamrocks would open the scoring on the power play just under four minutes into the game as Captain Chad Pounder lit the lamp for his first of three on the night.   The Shamrocks would take a two goal lead 11 minutes later as Brett Heitman would score his first, again with the man advantage.

The Raiders, winners of three straight, would finally get on the board with 3:10 to play in the first as Victor Wiens would tally on the power play.  Then just 1:15 later, with the Raiders still on the power play Luke Bailey would tie the game at two after a spectacular goal, shooting the ball behind his head to beat the Shamrocks goalie Chad Pieper.

The Raiders, still with the man advantage, would take their first lead of the game with just 58 seconds to play in the opening frame as Captain Jacob Illichmann would score his 21st of the season.

In the second period and again on the power play the Raiders would strike at 13:33 as Joe Brown put past the netminder to give the Raiders a 4-2 lead.  Just 64 seconds later, and again on the power play Illichmann would tally his second of the night to give the defending champs a three goal advantage.

Following the five unanswered goals, the Shamrocks would look to the Captain once again.  Pounder would get his second of the night ripping it by the Raiders goalie Ryan Brabander.  It would mark the first even strength goal.  Then with 3:30 left in the frame Steven Clarke would bring the game within one with another even strength goal.

The Raiders would hold a slim 5-4 lead heading into the final 20 minutes.

The home side Raiders would come out flying in the third as 44 seconds into the final period Chris Phillips would restore a two goal lead with his first of the night.
Seemingly the goal by Phillips woke the Shamrocks offense as they would suddenly respond with four unanswered goals to tie and then take the lead.

With 15 minutes to play Brent Anderson would sent in alone after receiving a long pass from the Shamrocks goalie and would get his first goal of the game.  Then back to back shorthanded goals by Heitmann and Pounder would give the Shamrocks their first lead since early in the first period.

Clarke would add his second on a power play with 11:42 to play to give the visitors a two goal lead.

The Raiders would tally one more even strength goal by Brown, but couldn’t complete the comeback.  Jarrett Medhurst would seal it for the Shamrocks with a power play marker with 3:50 to play in the final period.

In all eight power play goals were scored.

The Raiders fall to 3-2 on the season, both losses coming at the hands of the Shamrocks, who raise their record to 2-2.  The two club will meet each other again in two weeks.