Di Miller, Beat Writer Denver Outlaws
Lacrosse is Awesome
The Denver Outlaws (4-1) hosted the Rochester Rattlers (3-3) on Saturday May 27, 2017. The clouds began to hover over Sports Authority Field at Mile High and the rain came down about 15 minutes prior to the start of the game. Denver had been on fire and was dominate over the Charlotte Hounds in their home-opener on May 7. But Denver was also missing Drew Snider for the contest as the youth team he coaches was in the play-offs. Since the two teams have been in the league, the Outlaws led the series 8-7 and wanted to make it 9-7 after Saturday night’s contest. Rochester had just come off a tough OT loss against the Florida Launch the weekend before by the score of 9-8 and really wanted to redeem themselves. Unfortunately, the Outlaws would come out on the short end in an extremely exciting and fast paced game. The fans were treated to some action packed lacrosse and regardless of the outcome; some great lacrosse was played that night. Final Score: Rochester 16—Denver 15.
What did each team need to accomplish? Denver needed to keep Jordan Wolf and Jeremy Boltus in check as they were coming into the contest with eight goals apiece; and Rochester needed to watch out for Mike Bocklet who had 15 goals on the season.
Rochester would come out the gates first with an unassisted goal from Jordan Wolf (5G, 4A) at 3:06. The Outlaws struck back with an unassisted goal from Eric Law (3G) a little over two minutes later; followed by Mike Bocklet (assist Matt Bocklet). But Rochester came back with three unanswered goals, Conor Gately would hit net; followed by another unassisted from Wolf; and an amazing unassisted 2pt bullet from Kyle Denhoff. Denver would close out the first with another from Mike Bocklet (assist Sieverts) at 12:49. Score at the end of one: Rochester 5—Denver 3.
The second quarter was an absolute shoot out. Of the 10 goals scored, nine were unassisted. The action was so fast paced that the fans looked as though they were watching a tennis match. The second quarter just as the first was clean with no penalties, but the plays were aggressive and the goalies had their jobs cut out trying to stop the barrage of bullets coming their way. Denver would start out on a five-goal run, the first of four which were unassisted. Tim Barber started it off (3G, 1A) only 33 seconds in. Tommy Kelly, face-off specialist for the Outlaws would win at X and take it right down the field and only six seconds later would blow it past John Galloway for yet another unassisted goal. The next two to score for Denver would be Matt Kavanagh
and Brian VonBargen, both unassisted. Mike Bocklet would get his hat-trick at 3:44 (assist to Kavanagh) and in less than four minutes, the Outlaws would score more than they had in the first 15 minutes of play. Wolf would come back with an unassisted shot giving him the hat-trick shutting down Denver’s run, and Wes Berg would put one between the pipes unassisted less than two minutes later. The goal fest didn’t stop there. TJ Neubauer would put it between the pipes, followed by Wolf again who would eat up Jack Kelly with yet another unassisted shot. The quarter would close out again with Denver netting the final unassisted goal of the half off Barber, this time at the 12:47 mark. The fans needed the half-time break as badly as the players did. With 1o goals going up on the board, excitement was in the stands and exhaustion in the locker room. Rochester had scored in 30 minutes what they scored against Florida in 60 the week before, so Denver had their work cut out. At the end of the first half Denver would lead 10-8.
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Rochester would start out the third and each team would match the other goal for goal. Again, there would be three unassisted goals in the quarter. The Rattlers would see Denhoff; Boltus with two; and Ty Thompson all put it between the pipes. The Outlaws would see Kelly
score unassisted again from the face-off; Law unassisted; and Mike Bocklet with his fourth in the contest. After three quarters of play, Denver would still hold a narrow lead 13-12.
Heading into the fourth, Denver’s Nick Ossello would be hit with a 30 second pushing technical foul penalty allowing Rochester to tie the game on the power-play off Thompson (assist Wolf). Wolf would come back with yet another unassisted goal to put the Rattlers ahead 14-13 at the 6:04 mark in the fourth. Barber and Law would score for Denver putting them ahead by one with the score 15-14. The fans were biting their nails, and the sidelines were electric. Wes Berg would dive through the crease in an attempt to tie the game but the goal was called back as Berg’s toe would tap the line inside the crease. Rochester knew they needed all they could muster to stop the Outlaws, tie the game and regain the lead for the win. Boltus would be the hero of the night scoring the final two goals at 12:50 (assist Denhoff) and at 13:33 (assist Wolf). Final Score: Rattlers 16—Outlaws 15.
Although Denver led in the face-off category going 20-34; Galloway was tighter in net than Kelly. With some new faces on the field for the Outlaws, you could see some miscues, but otherwise, they played solid ball. Kelly let some shots go by that you would normally see him save, but the wet grass from the earlier rains affected his footing and some got by that he wished he could have back.
With the Mammoth season over, Greg Downing will be back for the home games and possibly an occasional away game with a new baby in the family. Chris O’Dougherty is coming back this season, but is a bit beaten up from the NLL season and having some back issues.
Now that the 2017 MLL Collegiate Draft is over, players that have had the opportunity to shine will see if they made the cut for the weekly roster or if they will be sent down to the practice squad. Right now, the veteran starters have locked in their spots and unless an injury occurs will see the majority of the playing time. Tim Barber has found his niche’ and it playing spectacular lacrosse and has most likely locked in his spot on the starting squad. Brett Hiken backup face-off specialist was traded to the Atlanta Blaze over the weekend, so we should see Tommy Kelly taking the majority of the face-offs.
It will be interesting to see who suits up this Saturday when they head to Boston to take on the Cannons (2-3) at Harvard Stadium. Kevin S. Clancy will be at the game covering it for us and the Boston vs. Denver rivalry continues.
Di Miller, Beat Writer Denver Outlaws
Lacrosse is Awesome