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Di Miller, Beat Writer Denver Outlaws
Lacrosse is Awesome
The Denver Outlaws (8-3) headed to Capelli Stadium in Rochester, NY to face the Rattlers (6-6). When these two teams met in Denver on May 27, the Rattlers would come away with a close victory 16-15. In order for the Outlaws to solidify a play-off game at home, they needed to win this game or the race would still be up in the air. Rochester has slowly been moving up the ranks and with all but Boston still in the play-off race, each game is extremely important. Although the Outlaws tried and stayed close for the first three quarters, it would be the pivotal fourth quarter for the Rattlers outscoring the Outlaws 6-1 that would seal their fate. Final Score: Rochester 18—Denver 12.
Denver would win the first quarter with goals from Drew Snider (4G); Mike Bocklet (2G); and Wes Berg (2G, 1A). Although Rochester started it off only 50 seconds in off Jordan MacIntosh (4G, 1A), they wouldn’t score again until the 14:10 mark off Conor Gately (2G, 1A). Both net-minders Jack Kelly for Denver and John Galloway for Rochester would notch five saves in the frame. Score at the end of one: Denver 3—Rochester 2.
Rochester would dominate the second frame doubling the goals scored by Denver. John Ranagan would get it started for the Rattlers with an unassisted shot at 1:05. Denver would hit back with goals from Mike Bocklet 28 seconds later, but fans would not see the ball land between the pipes for over four and a half minutes when Eric Law (2G, 2A) assist Michael “Tree” Simon put the Outlaws up 5-3. Rochester would hit back hard with a six-goal run virtually stopping Denver in their tracks. Galloway had only two saves in the quarter which meant the Outlaws shots were hap-hazard and off target. Jack Near (1G, 2A) would start off the scoring frenzy; and only 15 seconds later Donny Moss would send an unassisted bullet past Kelly. Ned Crotty (1G, 2A) would keep things moving with the assist from Dhane Smith at 7:06. Ranagan and MacIntosh would hit their second on the night; Ty Thompson (2G) would close out the run at the 10 minute mark and Dhane Smith would get his third assist in a matter of three minutes. The Rattlers would score six goals in six minutes. Ryan Ambler (1G, 2A) would team up with E. Law; and Zach Currier would score unassisted at 12:43. The Outlaws had score two goals in two minutes, but a far cry from the stellar performance by Rochester. Thompson would shut down the second with the assist going to Crotty at 13:56. Kelly would notch two saves and Galloway three. Score at the end of two: Rattlers 10—Outlaws 7.
Snider would start off the third with back-to-back goals for Denver at 2:04 and 2:31 giving him the hat-trick; and Berg would follow with his second on the night (unassisted) to tie the game at 10 apiece. The Outlaws would outscore Rochester allowing only two goals from the Rattlers. Ryan McNamara (2G, 1A) assist again from Smith; and Ranagan would notch his hat-trick at 9:25. Denver would close out the third with Snider getting his fourth of the night, a sweet unassisted laser beam with 59 seconds remaining in the frame. Both goalies would have five saves apiece. In the first three quarters, there would be a total of three penalties, two on Rochester and one on Denver although neither team could capitalize on the man-up opportunities. Even though the Outlaws outscored the Rattlers, Rochester would head to the final frame still up 12-11.
Quarter number four and it was all Rochester. They would go on another scoring streak with five unanswered goals, the first on a power-play off a Denver slashing penalty. MacIntosh on the man-up would notch his hat-trick at 5:03; Ranagan unassisted for his fourth; Joel White (1G, 1A) at 8:22; McNamara would score his second and Gately would hit net unassisted at 9:58 giving him number two on the night. The scoring frenzy would be broken up on a man-up opportunity for the Outlaws off an illegal body check on Rochester at 11:00 and E. Law would get the unassisted power-play goal only nine seconds later but that would be it for Denver. McIntosh would close out the scoring with an unassisted shot his fourth on the night with 1:01 remaining in the game. Kelly would have two saves to three by Galloway. Final Score: Rochester 18—Denver 12.
Denver missed on their man-up situations going 1-4; and Rochester 1-2. Rochester would lead in SOG with 32-28; and 35-29 on GB’s. Dhane Smith would have an amazing five assists in the game and Rochester would see nine different players score.
What stands out in this game is simple. Denver cannot allow any team to decisively dominate in any quarter. Over the last few games, the Denver defense has been covering their men well with either a two-on-one or three-on-one situations. They must protect Kelly in net and they’ve got to get their top shooters firing on all cylinders on a regular basis.
Denver still leads the Ohio Machine by a full game heading into this weekend. Denver has three regular season games left. They play Ohio on July 23; and will close out the season with back-to-back games against the Chesapeake Bayhawks. Many scenarios can still play out for home field advantage and the best scenario would be Denver defeating the Machine for the second time this weekend and winning at least one of the two games against Chesapeake.
With the race for the top so close, the Machine have to play perfect ball in order to gain home-field advantage and will need to win all three games remaining, Denver; New York and Rochester. Both the Lizards and Rochester are moving up in the standings and this will be an interesting two weeks of Lacrosse.
Di Miller, Beat Writer Denver Outlaws
Lacrosse is Awesome