Saints Start Strong, But Shamrocks Steal Game 1 in a Wild Playoff Opener

Playoff lacrosse has a way of revealing a team’s true heartbeat, and on Saturday in Victoria, the Port Coquitlam Saints showed both their fire and their flaws in a spirited but frustrating 11–9 loss to the Shamrocks in Game 1 of the BC Jr A first‑round series.

What made the game so compelling was how sharply the tone shifted. For twenty minutes, the Saints looked like a group ready to dictate the entire series. By the final buzzer, they were left stewing over a third period that slipped away far too easily.

The Saints didn’t just start well — they started like a team determined to make a statement. Their ball movement popped, their pace hummed, and their confidence was unmistakable. Every possession felt purposeful, every check had bite. When the horn sounded at the end of the first, Port Coquitlam held the lead and looked fully in command.

It wasn’t just scoring; it was rhythm. The Saints were firing on all cylinders, the kind of opening frame that makes you think, Alright, they’re here to take this building over.

Victoria pushed back in the middle frame, and the Saints met them punch for punch. The period finished 6–6, a chaotic, fast‑moving stretch where neither side could pull away.

Josh Mills was electric, carving through coverage and finishing with a monstrous 4 goals and 3 assists. Lincoln Wall wasn’t far behind, stacking 3 goals and 2 assists.

Defensively, the Saints were gutsy. They turned aside 16 shots, with Zack Vanderwal leading the charge and swallowing 4 blocked shots like it was nothing. It was gritty, blue‑collar lacrosse — the kind of effort that usually tilts a playoff game.

And then the floor tilted.

Victoria owned the loose balls, owned the pace, and owned the final twenty minutes. The Saints suddenly found themselves chasing instead of dictating. Even when the Shamrocks made sloppy mistakes — and they made plenty — their penalty kill bailed them out.

In a twist that stung, Victoria’s short man didn’t just survive; they thrived. Their pressure created turnovers, and their counterpunching turned Saints power plays into Shamrocks goals. It was the kind of reversal that drains a bench.

Port Coquitlam kept swinging, but the third belonged entirely to Victoria, and that was the difference.

Port Coquitlam Saints 9Victoria Shamrocks 11

A tough loss, especially after such a strong start, but this series is far from settled.

Next Game Game 2 — Sunday, July 19Port Coquitlam Community CentreDoors: 4:00 pm | Game: 5:00 pm

A home crowd. A chance to reset. A chance to punch back.

Saints Playoff Leaders

Loose Balls: Luke Neary & Jared Maznik

Caused Turnovers: Jeremy Launt

Blocked Shots: Zac Vanderwal