The Langley Thunder beat the Victoria Shamrocks 7-6 in Game 1 of the Western Lacrosse Association best-of-seven final on Wednesday in Langley.
Was it a typical one-goal game that went to the home team or is this another Shamrocks team hitting a wall in the playoffs?
It's the fifth straight WLA final game the Shamrocks have lost, dating back to the beginning of the Rocks 2010 WLA series. The Rocks haven't won in the final since eliminating the New Westminster Salmonbellies in Game 5 of the 2006 series.
Leading the Thunder on Wednesday was Mark Matthews, a surprise as first-star of the game, who scored a hat trick after tallying just five goals in the regular season. Matthews' potted two crucial markers in the third period to stave off the Shamrocks' comeback. Rocks' Jeff Shattler, Rhys Duch and Dan McRae scored for the Rocks in the third. Tyler Hass, Brody Eastwood and Corey Small also scored for the Rocks.
Thunder goalie Brodie McDonald made 48 saves as the Rocks out-shot the Thunder 54-33.
Game 2 is Friday at Bear Mountain Arena, 7:45 p.m.