The Victoria Shamrocks are one win away from hosting the Mann Cup national men's box lacrosse final.
The Rocks lead the Western Lacrosse Association final series 3-2 after an 11-8 win over the Langley Thunder in Game 5 on Sunday (Aug. 25).
Game 6 is Thursday (Aug. 29) at Bear Mountain Arena at 7:45 p.m.
Shamrocks netminder Matt Vinc stopped 35 of 43 shots, stymieing the Thunder's top guns of Adam Jones, Athan Ianucci, Dan Dobbie and Garrett Billings, who combined for just five goals on 28 shots.
Youngster Mitch Jones led the Shamrocks offence with three goals. The 22-year-old played with many of the Thunder and Shamrocks on the Vancouver Stealth, which has relocated for 2014 to Langley from Everett, Wash.
Tyler Hass came up big again with a goal and three assists and has completed a full conversion from CIS basketball star to pro lacrosse player.
Call up junior Brody Eastwood scored two goals, as did Cory Conway, who tallied three assists and five points, and has improved vastly throughout the series.
Defencemen Dan McRae and Jon Harnett and captain Scott Ranger each scored once.
The game turned in the Shamrocks' favour in the second period when Eastwood scored 10 seconds after Brett Mydske had given the Thunder a 6-5 lead. The Rocks popped two more goals before the period was over to start the third up 8-6.
Thunder goalie Brodie MacDonald stopped 49 of the 60 shots he faced.
Game 7, if necessary, is in Langley on Sunday, Sept. 1.
The Rocks haven't been to the Mann Cup since losing to the Peterborough Lakers in 2006. The Mann Cup starts Sept. 6.
