Di Miller, Beat Writer Denver Outlaws
Lacrosse is Awesome
On Saturday May 28, 2016, the Denver Outlaws (2-3) returned home after a three-game road trip to face the Boston Cannons (3-3) in the Mile High City. The 8,210 Outlaws fans had been itching to see their team return home and come away with the win after losing three straight. Both teams were coming off losses and were ready to put one in the “W” column. Fortunately for the Denver Outlaws, momentum and sheer determination played a key role in their victory over the Cannons. Final Score: Outlaws 17—Cannons 13.
Boston would come flying out of the gates in the first with back-to-back goals from the MLL’s leading scorer Will Manny, the first only two minutes in. Justin Turri would score again for the Cannons midway through the quarter to put them up 3-0. But as always, Mike Bocklet would come through for the Outlaws and with an assist from John Grant Jr., find a spot between the pipes putting them on the board. Brent Adams from the Cannons would follow it up less than 90 seconds later. It was then that the Outlaws would go on a three-goal run with Eric Law starting the barrage, his first of five on the night. Dom Sebastiani and Grant Jr., would put two more on the board for the Outlaws tying the score with only 22 seconds remaining. Score at the end of one: Outlaws 4—Cannons 4.
Heading into the second the Outlaws wouldn’t stop there as Sebastiani would score unassisted at 2:30; followed by Law (assist Grant Jr.). Adams would stop the five goal run of Denver with another unassisted goal at 6:26. Michael “Tree” Simon defenseman for the Outlaws would answer back with an assist from Law four minutes later. But the Cannons would fire back only 23 seconds later off a goal from Josh Hawkins, his first of the year. The Outlaws were bound and determined not to let the Cannons back into the game. Bocklet score his second of three in the contest; followed by Wes Berg; and Law (hat-trick). Manny and Adams would score again for the Cannons putting them to within two and the end of the first half. Score: Outlaws 10—Cannons 8.
Drew Snider would open up the third for the Outlaws; and Tim Barber 
would get his first MLL career goal with the assist going to Snider. James Fahey would net his first of the season and bring the Cannons back to within two. But Snider would find the net again to start another three goal run; with Law scoring only to be followed by another from Snider (hat-trick). Boston would put up the final two points of the quarter with goals from Kevin Buchanan (first of the year); and another from Fahey. Score at the end of the third: Outlaws 15—Cannons 11.
The fans would see only four goals in the fourth. Law would get his fifth on the night; and Bocklet would net the hat-trick. Boston would score the final two goals of the game with Buchanan getting his second; and Greg Rogowski his first with only five seconds remaining on the clock. Final Score: Outlaws 17—Cannons 13.
The Outlaws found new life heading into this game. Eric Law dominated the game (5G, 2A) and was spectacular to watch as his acrobatic come from behind the crease and diving goals brought the fans to their feet, and tying his single-game high. Ryan LaPlante had settled in between the pipes, only allowing 13 goals against for a .581 SV%. Denver would have three players with hat-tricks—Law, Mike Bocklet, and Snider; eight different Outlaws would score during the contest; and would see five players score their first goals of the season: Eric Law (5); John Grant, Jr., Wes Berg, Tim Barber and Michael Simon (1 ea).
Next weekend, Denver (2-3) heads back out of town to New York to face the Lizards (3-1) on Friday June 3. Boston (3-3) heads to Atlanta to face the Blaze (2-2) on Saturday June 4.
Di Miller, Beat Writer Denver Outlaws
Lacrosse is Awesome