Di Miller, Beat Writer Denver Outlaws
Lacrosse is Awesome
The Denver Outlaws have been a team in transition during this 2016 MLL Season. Their last trip to the play-offs and first ever MLL Championship was in 2014. In 2015, they would end their regular season at 500 and not make the play-0ffs for the first time in franchise history. In 2016, they would have their worst start ever, winning their first two games ironically enough against the same team, the Ohio Machine, only to lose their next six in a row. With a record of 2-6, they would face the MLL Champion New York Lizards in a rare Friday afternoon game on June 24, 2016 where they would dominate the champs and start their six-game winning streak and would not look back. They would close out their season with the best winning streak of the 2016 MLL season with six wins in a row to end the regular season with the record of 8-6.
But then the waiting game would start. The first two scenarios for them to be in play-0ff contention meant they had to defeat the Charlotte Hounds in their last regular season game on July 3o, 2016 and the Ohio Machine would have to lose to the Atlanta Blaze. Both scenarios played out, but with one more week remaining in the regular season, they would have over 10 scenarios to play out in order to advance to the 2016 MLL play-offs. As the Outlaws and their fans watched each game, fingers were crossed for all of these scenarios to finalize. As each game ended, they inched closer to their play-off hopes. Somehow, the stars aligned and the Outlaws would clinch a play-off spot and become the number three seed in the play-offs, when they were number seven in the league on June 23. They would go from a record of 2-6 and looking like there was absolutely no chance for them to turn the season around, to a run that would surpass all expectations and end the regular season above 500 and a trip to the play-0ffs.
There were some controversial trades prior to the trade deadline. The biggest being the John Grant, Jr. trade to the Ohio Machine for Adam Fullerton. In our interview with Outlaws GM Tony Seaman, he was quoted saying “John Grant, Jr. cannot be measured in goals scored or assists given. He is the true ultimate professional; great in the locker room; great on the field; and one of the very best to ever play the game. The Outlaws future does not lie in his hands like it did in 2014 when we brought him into our organization and he helped lead us to our first MLL Championship. Sadly his days are numbered and we are very excited about having Matt Kavanagh with us as his heir apparent. We wish him the very best as his unbelievable career continues.” Although some Outlaws fans were outraged by the trade, Matt Kavanagh
has proven himself on the field and the trade hasn’t hurt the Outlaws. In fact, the rookies on the team: Matt Kavanagh; Bailey Tills; BJ Grill; Jack Kelly; Tommy Kelly; and Brian Kormondy have done more for the team with this young offense and defense by sparking the veteran players giving them an extra jolt which has allowed the team to surpass what fans and the other MLL teams could have ever imagined.
The Outlaws also brought in Nick Ossello
mid-way through the season in exchange for Dom Sebastiani. Again the Outlaws were criticized by some fans who felt the Outlaws needed to add more defensive players rather than another offensive mid-fielder. What those fans failed to see was that Michael “Tree” Simon who was named to the MLL All-Star Team again in 2016; along with Matt Bocklet who picked up a record 100 GB’s in their final game against the Hounds are key defensive players to be reckoned with. Max Schmidt is no slouch either.
We can’t forget the veteran all-stars either: Jeremy Sieverts; and Drew Snider. If you look at this Outlaws roster, there isn’t a weak player on the squad and that is what New York needs to keep in mind.
Denver has a multitude of talent on their roster and are now the team to beat. Then you have Jack Kelly, rookie net-minder from Brown University who came away with the “W” in his last six starts. Kelly was named MLL Cascade Rookie of the Week twice this season; named Warrior Defensive Player of the Week; and also came away with the MLL Rookie of the Year. 
Kelly is only the second player in Outlaws franchise history to be given this award; the only other player to receive the award was former mid-fielder Dan Hardy who won in 2009.
The Outlaws have enough talent on their roster, both on the offensive and defensive side of the field as well as depth on both sides. Wes Berg is healthy this year and since he returned at the end of the NLL season has been pivotal in the Outlaws offensive squad; Mike Bocklet was one of the best acquisitions the Outlaws could have made being picked up in the Open Try-Outs in 2015; Tommy Kelly was picked up in the Expansion Draft the end of 2015; and Eric Law has had one of his best seasons yet.
Even with the players who have been unable to play this year, Chris Bocklet; Chris O’Dougherty; and Dillon Roy, the Outlaws have found a way to be successful and win much needed games.
So, you have to ask yourself…would you want to be the team to face the Outlaws who are on fire; have had two weeks to rest their legs and get healthy, or would you rather play a team that was able to squeak into the play-offs based upon the strange scenarios which many fans have questioned?
The Outlaws were defeated by the Lizards on June 3, by the score of 21-18, but were able to defeat the 6-1 New York Lizards on June 24, 2016 by the score of 20-16 starting the Lizards three-game losing streak. This win gave Denver a new purpose and goal to finish out the season with a winning record and not look back.
The Lizards have been complacent during the final weeks of the season losing their final two games to Boston and Ohio. Their defense, although strong has not played up to their potential and looked sloppy on the field. Frustrations are apparent especially with the hit Dave Lawson put on Jason Noble during their game against Chesapeake costing him a one game suspension.
Having covered the Denver Outlaws for the past three years, I haven’t seen this kind of determination since their championship season in 2014. In my opinion, it is this determination that will carry the Outlaws into the Championship game and another Steinfeld Trophy.
My prediction for their game against the New York Lizards on Saturday May 13, 2o16: Outlaws 18—Lizards 12.
We shall see which of the two teams will advance. Denver who is on a roll or the Lizards who want to redeem themselves after a poor showing at the end of the 2016 regular season.
Di Miller, Beat Writer Denver Outlaws
Lacrosse is Awesome