Di Miller, Beat Writer Denver Outlaws
Lacrosse is Awesome
The Denver Outlaws (9-4) had just come off two consecutive losses, the first time this season. They hosted the Chesapeake Bayhawks (6-7) who are currently sitting in sixth place in the MLL. The Outlaws could have clinched a home playoff game on Sunday July 23, but were defeated by the Ohio Machine. This meant that with two games remaining, the Outlaws would have to come out on top in one of the two to insure a playoff game in Denver. What does this mean for Chesapeake? It puts them in a must win situation against Denver on August 3rd at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium as well as other scenarios to play out in order grab one of the three remaining playoff berths. Final Score in OT: Denver 12—Chesapeake 11.
The Outlaws were again without midfielder Matt Kavanagh, but Matt Bocklet was back in the game and ready to play. The weather was muggy and hot, but the seats were filled with a multitude of young lacrosse players excited for some amazing Outlaws lacrosse and those who weathered the heat, would not be disappointed as this game was a back and forth match in the second half.
Denver would start out quickly with Wes Berg (3G) scoring an unassisted goal as he dodged around his defender and fired a bullet past Niko Amato only 36 seconds in. The Outlaws were fired up, but Miles Jones (1G) would answer back with one of his own splitting the defenders and hitting net at 1:58. The Outlaws would get back-to-back goals, one from Jeremy Sieverts his lone goal of the game unassisted; followed by Romar Dennis (3G, 1A) with his picture perfect stance who would fire and shoot one between the pipes. The Outlaws would quiet down a bit when Matt Danowski (3G, 2A) would put up back-to-back goals only 17 seconds apart at 6:15 and 6:32. But Denver would control the remaining eight and half minutes of the quarter with three unanswered goals. Berg would get his second (assist Eric Law); and Zach Currier (2G, 1A) would close it out with two goals, an unassisted goal at 7:45 and his second off the feed from Dennis to notch his second of the game at 11:48. The rookies Denver has picked up in the Collegiate Draft are really digging in their heels and showing the coaching staff they deserve their place in the starting line-up. Drew Snider would be hit with the only penalty in the first 15, a 30 second illegal procedure but the Bayhawks could not capitalize. Denver dominated the quarter outscoring the Bayhawks six to three. Both net minders, Jack Kelly for the Outlaws whose been seeing the ball well had three saves on six shots, and his counterpart Amato who played spectacular in last week’s contest against the Blaze would have four saves on 10 shots. Score at the end of one: Denver 6—Chesapeake 3.
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The second half was a tennis match with both teams missing the net repeatedly, but the Bayhawks would score two on nine shots and Denver would be shut out in the frame although they had five shots on goal. The fans would see no scoring for the first eight minutes of the quarter. Then Josh Byrne (4G) who’s been a sensation as of late would sneak it past Kelly top left with an unassisted shot at 8:07 to break the drought. The fans would have to watch the teams run up and down the field for another five and a half minutes before the Bayhawks would find twine at 13:09 off Colin Heacock (1G, 1A) who got some help from Nick Aponte. The Outlaws looked flat in the second quarter and the Bayhawks didn’t fare much better although they were able to get back to within one. Again the Outlaws would be hit with the only penalty, a one-minute slashing on Finn Sullivan at the 2:08 mark but once again, the Bayhawks missed on the man-up opportunity. Chesapeake would have nine shots on goal; and Denver with five. Amato was perfect between the pipes in the quarter shutting out Denver and allowing his team to get back into the game. Score at the end of the first half: Outlaws 6—Bayhawks 5.
Heading into the third, the frustrations would build for Denver as Chesapeake would tie the game at the 1:06 mark when Aponte (1G, 1A) would get open for the feed from Danowski and send it past the legs of Kelly. For over 10 minutes, neither team could find a way to score until Denver broke the silence with an unassisted shot from Dennis at 10:53. But just as quickly as Denver would go up the Bayhawks would answer back with another from Byrne at 11:39 (assist Jack Frocarro). After the ensuing face-off, Denver would get possession. The Outlaws headed down the field and with Law behind the left side of the net, 
Noah Molnar cut across in front of the crease and with Amato trying to get back in between the pipes, Molnar would go airborne, and slam dunk the ball past a stunned Amato with just one second remaining on the clock. Chesapeake would take 11 shots on goal and only put two on the board. Denver didn’t do much better only notching two goals off eight shots. Saves for Kelly nine—Amato six. Amazingly enough the quarter was penalty free and at the end of three, the Outlaws were still up 8-6.
Fans would see ping pong lacrosse the entire fourth quarter. Chesapeake would sandwich each of the Outlaws goals outscoring them four to three in the frame. CJ Costabile (1G) would start the match at the 56 second mark only to be answered by Berg at 4:24. And here’s how the remainder of the fourth quarter would play out: Danowski for Chesapeake at 4:51; Nick Ossello (1G) for Denver at 6:27; Byrne again for Chesapeake (hat-trick) at 7:41; and Dennis (hat-trick) for Denver at 10:08. Denver was still up by one 11-10 and each team tried their best with shot after shot but Amato and Kelly held their ground. At the 14:17 mark, there was a scuffle near the Outlaws crease as Kelly was trying to gain control of the ball. The pushing and shoving started and all of a sudden, both teams were heading down to the net to protect their men. There would be four penalties called for the fight, one against Bayhawks midfielder Domenic Sebastiani for an unsportsmanlike (one minute) and three against Finn Sullivan long-pole defenseman for the Outlaws. Sullivan would receive an unsportsmanlike; fighting and game ejection. Both teams would be on a man-down situation for the remaining 43 seconds. After the ruckus had ended, the unthinkable would happen. Denver would have possession with less than a minute to play in the game. They needed to retain possession of the ball and run out the clock, instead a shot off target went past the net and Chesapeake would pick up the ground ball and head down the field. With six seconds left in the game, Byrne with the assist from Danowski would send the tying shot into the net. Everyone was stunned. The players knew that with the pending face-off the chances to score before time ran out were slim, but Matt Bocklet got the ground ball and with his long pole went for the Hail Mary shot. The ball went wide and sent the game into sudden death OT. Score at the end of regulation: Denver 11—Chesapeake 11.
During the short break both teams began their strategy as to how they would get that OT goal. Denver was 12-26 at “X” and Tommy Kelly knew the pressure was on. Although Denver would win the face-off, they could not capitalize. Chesapeake took back possession of the ball and the fans were silent. Denver held strong and on the turnover would head down the field where Ryan Ambler would feed the ball to E. Law coming around the right side of the net. He found a way to split the defenders and when Amato dropped and went left, Law saw the opening and shot top corner to score the game winning goal at 7:17. The Outlaws went wild as they knew winning this game would guarantee a home field play-off spot. Score in OT: Outlaws 12—Chesapeake 11.
Except for the second quarter, this game was a nail-biter for every person in the stadium whether you were a player, coach or fan. Both teams each had different reasons for wanting the “W”. For Denver of course it was a home play-off game; and Chesapeake needed this game to give them a better chance at a play-off spot.
Next Thursday August 3rd, the Outlaws head to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium to face the Bayhawks. It’s do or die for Chesapeake and Denver can relax just a bit knowing they’ve made it to the play-offs.
Di Miller, Beat Writer Denver Outlaws
Lacrosse is Awesome