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Di Miller, Beat Writer Denver Outlaws
Lacrosse is Awesome
On Saturday July 15, 2017, the Denver Outlaws (8-2) headed to Fortress Field in Obetz, Ohio to face the Ohio Machine (7-4). The new field in Ohio was built in 2016, the first professional lacrosse focused field in Major League Lacrosse. This game was extremely important for both sides as a win by the Outlaws would put them one and a half games ahead of the Machine or it would statistically tie the two teams with records of 7-3. The 3,232 Ohio fans came out to watch their team attempt to defeat the Outlaws who have been on a scoring frenzy with Denver having scored 44 goals in the past two games as compared to 29 by the Machine. The Outlaws are looking to repeat as the MLL Champions in 2017 and went into this game with the momentum they had from their phenomenal victory over the Blaze on July 4, 2017. Final Score: Outlaws 13—Machine 11.
Denver would start out the first quarter with Mike Bocklet (2G), assist to Wes Berg only 1:20 in. The fans would have to wait over six minutes before they would see their team score. Mark Cockerton (3G, 2A) with the assist from Connor Cannizzaro would find a spot between the pipes at 6:46 to tie the game. But Denver would score back-to-back goals another by Mike Bocklet (assist Eric Law) 8:58; and then E. Law (3G, 1A) would come back with one of his own (assist Zach Currier) at 10:03. Ohio struck back with a three-goal run putting them ahead. Kevin Cunningham (2G) would get the assist from Tom Schreiber at 10:38; Schreiber (1G, 3A) would hit net unassisted at 11:06; followed by Cockerton’s second on the night (unassisted only 12 second later giving them the 4-3 lead. Law would score with the assist from Larken Kemp, his first MLL Career assist at 11:47. Kemp was picked up by the Outlaws in the 2017 MLL Collegiate Draft in the second round and 17th overall. Kemp is a long-pole defenseman out of Brown University where he recorded 18 points (6G, 12A) during his senior season at Brown. The Machine would close out the first with former DU Alum Connor Cannizzaro (3G, 1A) assist Cockerton at 13:27. With 10 seconds left in the first, Cannizzaro would be hit with a 30 second interference call which would carry into the second. Score at the end of one: Machine 5—Outlaws 4.
Although Denver started the frame on a man-up situation, they couldn’t capitalize. This time it would be Ohio starting it off with Kyle Harrison (assist Schreiber) at 3:43 putting them up by two. But Berg (3G, 1A) would hit back with one of his hot shots unassisted at 5:23 to bring the score 6-5 still in favor of Ohio. Cockerton would get his hat-trick for Ohio at 8:51; followed by Jeremy Sieverts midfielder for Denver unassisted at 11:47. Denver would be nailed with two separate penalties in the second, Drew Snider 30 seconds for a “pushing technical foul” at 3:09; and Finn Sullivan one minute for an “illegal body check personal foul” at 6:22. Fortunately for the Outlaws, the Machine were unable to score on the man-up as Denver tightened up their defensive lines and Jack Kelly made the net look smaller giving the Machine no target to find twine. The second quarter was a defensive battle all the way as both teams who are very powerful in the scoring category were held to two goals apiece. Score at the end of two: Machine 7—Outlaws 6.
After the break, Ohio struck blood first with Cannizzaro getting his second of three on the night, this one unassisted at 4:49. Then Denver got out the guns and started the shoot out. They would score four unanswered goals with Berg (5:24); Law, hat-trick (7:40) and Currier (11:24) all unassisted. Ryan Ambler would get his only point on the night with the assist going to Snider at 12:00. Cannizzaro who is such a pleasure to watch his finesse on the field would notch his hat-trick with an unassisted shot at 13:09; and Peter Baum would close out the third for the Machine at 14:15. The only penalty that would come in the third was a 30 second illegal procedure technical foul on Dominique Alexander at 2:01, but again the Outlaws could not capitalize on the man-up. The tides had turned and at the end of three the game would be tied at 10 apiece.
Heading into the fourth, it was anyone’s guess as to what would happen. Outlaws Rookie Romar Dennis would come out with a bang hitting a 2pt shot unassisted at 1:42. Again, the fans would see virtually no scoring in the fourth. Berg would hit his hat-trick all of his goals unassisted at 5:06 to put the Outlaws up by three. Finally, at the 6:33 mark Cunningham would get his second on the night and the final point to go up on the board for the remaining eight and a half minutes. Again, stellar defense and magnificent net-minding played a huge roll in the final outcome. The fans did not leave the game early with their team down by only two goals and eight minutes left on the clock. As everyone knows, in lacrosse the score can change quickly. However no matter what Ohio tried, they couldn’t find a spot between Kelly and the pipes and would come out on the short end. Final Score: Outlaws 13—Machine 11.
Here’s some key notes on the game:
- 11 of the 24 goals scored were unassisted
- Both teams were 0-2 on the power-play
- Wes Berg would mark three consecutive games with a hat-trick
- Ground balls were tied at 27 apiece
- Each team would have only two penalties and there were no penalties in the fourth
- The Outlaws have scored 144 goals and have 111 against
- The Machine have scored 149 goals and have 124 against
- Denver has had five 2ptGF and five 2ptGA
- Ohio has had one 2ptGF and five 2ptGA
Next weekend on Sunday July 23, 2017, the Machine head to Denver to face the Outlaws at Sports Authority Field at Mile-High. This is a must win game for the Machine if they want to hold onto second place. The Florida Launch (6-5) are only one game back from the Machine (7-4) but the Machine hold the tie breaker as they only played each other once this season with the Machine defeating the Launch by the score of 17-9.
Denver has four games remaining this season. They will head to Rochester on Thursday July 20 to face the Rattlers (4-6). The last time these two teams met was in Denver on May 27 where the Rattlers barely defeated the Outlaws by the score of 16-15. Then Ohio heads to Denver on Sunday July 23 to face the Outlaws; then they will play home and away games against the Chesapeake Bayhawks (July 27 and August 3) to close out the regular season.
The Machine have three games remaining in the regular season, July 23 in Denver; July 29 at home against the Lizards; and away at Rochester on August 5.
Di Miller, Beat Writer Denver Outlaws
Lacrosse is Awesome