Di Miller, Beat Writer Denver Outlaws
Lacrosse is Awesome
The Denver Outlaws (10-5) hosted the Rochester Rattlers (8-7) at Peter Barton Stadium on the campus of the University of Denver. This game would be the deciding factor as to which would advance onto the MLL Championship game at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on Saturday August 19, 2017. The 2,681 Outlaws fans would not be disappointed as Denver was on fire and determined to make it to the finals. In both contests this season, the Outlaws were defeated by the Rattlers and Rochester just came off a spectacular victory over the Ohio Machine on August 5, 2017. The game would not be a cake walk by any means and the Outlaws needed to bring their “A” game to the field if they wanted to advance.
Denver has appeared in more MLL Championships than any other team in the league and this will be their seventh appearance in 12 years of franchise history. Denver faced the Rattlers in 2014 and defeated them by the score of 12-11. In 2016 the Outlaws faced the Ohio Machine and defeated them by the score of 19-18. This year will be a rematch of the 2016 MLL Championship game as the Machine defeated the Florida Launch by the score of 18-13 in the second playoff game today. Final Score: Outlaws 15—Rattlers 8.
Rochester would start out the game scoring back-to-back goals, both unassisted. The first from Ned Crotty (1G) at 4:56; and the second coming off Ty Thompson (3G) only 18 seconds later. Outlaws fans were wondering if the misfortunes they have suffered this year with the Rattlers were starting up again. However, this would be the only time Rochester would lead in the contest. It would be over four and a half minutes before the Outlaws kicked it into gear with a three goal run. Co-Captains Eric Law (3G, 1A) and Drew Snider (1G) would start the scoring both unassisted at 9:30 and 10:21. Mike Bocklet (2G) would team up with Matt Kavanagh (6A) with a nice feed to close out the quarter at 14:15. John Galloway net minder for the Rattlers who has been spectacular between the pipes as of late was three for six on saves, while his counterpart Jack Kelly for the Outlaws was four for six on saves. The quarter was penalty free as neither team wanted to allow any man-up situations. Score at the end of one: Denver 3—Rattlers 2.
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The Rattlers were quick out of the gate heading into the second, but Thompson scoring off the assist from Dhane Smith only 42 seconds in would it for Rochester in the second frame. For almost 12 minutes the fans would see no scoring. The man defense on both sides was spectacular with the defense making their slides and both men between the pipes holding strong with picture perfect saves. Finally at the 12:48 mark, Denver would put up another three goal run, all unassisted. Michael “Tree” Simon (2G) would take the pass down the field, cock back and release his long pole sending an orange rocket passed a stunned Galloway. Rookie Zach Currier (1G, 2A), who has been nominated as Cascade Rookie of the Year, isn’t looking like a rookie these days. At 14:13 on the clock, Currier would come around the back of the net from the left side, leap and put the ball in top corner. Law would close out the quarter with his second of the day and only two seconds remaining on the clock. Galloway was two for five on saves, and Kelly five of six. 
The only penalty occurred on a 30 second pushing technical foul called on John Ranagan at the 11:24 mark, but Denver wasn’t able to capitalize on the man-up situation. As the buzzer sounded and the teams were set to head to their respective locker rooms for half-time, the lightning would begin sending the game into a 53 minute rain delay. Fans in the Corral seating were sent to the Richie Center to wait out the storm, while fans in the bleachers were forced to head down under where the opposing locker rooms are located. Score at the end of the first half: Denver 6—Rochester 3.
With the rain delay, the half-time show was cancelled and the extra time off the field didn’t do any favors for either team. Each team would put up only one goal. Thompson (hat-trick) would start out the scoring again for Rochester and hit net unassisted at 6:06, and it would be almost five minutes before Denver would get their lone goal, another from Simon at 11:02 off the feed from Kavanagh. 
Galloway stepped it up a notch in the third or the scoring for Denver would have been much higher. He was four of five on saves, and kept his team to within three goals. Kelly was two for three in the save category. Outlaws Nick Ossello would be called for 30 second holding at 2:54 but the Rattlers couldn’t capitalize on their man-up opportunity either. At the end of the third: Outlaws 7—Rattlers 4.
But Denver would show no mercy in the fourth. Once the Outlaws dial it in, they are one tough team to shut down. They would virtually silence the Rattlers with amazing defense; spectacular offense; and some of the best goal-tending you could hope for in a play-off game. Denver would go on an eight goal run, the first at 2:43 from Greg Downing (1G) assist to Law; Law at 3:12 (assist Kavanagh); Mike Bocklet at 4:57 (assist Currier); Matt Bocklet (1G) at 5:08 assist Kavanagh; Romar Dennis (2G) at 5:36 assist Kavanagh; Wes Berg (2G) at 7:15 assist Kavanagh; Dennis again at 8:12 (assist Currier); and Berg with the final Denver goal unassisted at 10:23. Of the eight goals scored by Denver in the fourth, Matt Kavanagh would amazingly assist on four of those goals. At the 4:37 mark Coach B.J. O’Hara decided to give Kelly a rest in net and put in backup goal tender Mike Nugent. The Rattlers wanted some sort of redemption and took it out on Nugent. Only 10 seconds after coming into the game, Jordan MacIntosh (1G) on the breakaway would head down the field and fire an unassisted two point shot on Nugent. After the ensuing faceoff, both teams were fumbling the ball around, and Mike Lazore (1G) would pick up the ground ball and in an almost identical fashion open up and let another two-pointer rip past Nugent, bringing the Rattlers to within seven. But this last ditch effort was not enough as the Outlaws used good clock management and Nugent would not let another get past him in the final minutes of the game. Final Score: Outlaws 15—Rattlers 8.
Rochester dominated at “X” leading 18-25 with Drew Simoneau taking all faceoff’s. Tommy Kelly was having problems with movement before the whistle, but the majority of the wins at “X” were clean for Simoneau. Denver had 26 SOG; 29 GB and 6 SOFF. Rochester would have 23 SOG; 35 GB; and 22 SOFF. If the Rattlers had made clean shots on goal, they very well could have won the contest, unfortunately for them the momentum they had coming off the victory over the Machine had faded with the week off and anticipation of a possible return to the MLL Championship.
Denver (10-5) will face the Ohio Machine (10-5), who are statistically in first place having only 176 goals against to the Outlaws who have 180 goals against.
The 2017 regular and first round play-off stats for each team are:
Team W L GB WPCT GF 2ptGF GA 2ptGA HOME AWAY
Ohio 10- 5 – .667 212 3 176 6 5-3 5-2
Denver 10-5 – .667 214 5 180 9 5-3 5-2
So, lacrosse fans are prepped and ready for the rematch of the Machine vs. the Outlaws for the prestigious Steinfeld Cup and an MLL Championship next Saturday August 19 at 5:00 p.m. MDT.
Di Miller, Beat Writer Denver Outlaws
Lacrosse is Awesome