Di Miller, Beat Writer Denver Outlaws
Lacrosse is Awesome
On Saturday May 19, 2018 the previously undefeated Charlotte Hounds (4-1) headed to the Mile High City to face the Denver Outlaws (2-4). On that cold night there were 2,665 die hard Outlaws fans on hand to watch their team and its rookies come out strong. Denver was without veteran Jeremy Sieverts; Matt Kavanagh; and Shawn Evans. Drew Snider barely made it to the game and had to be flown in that morning. But even without their power shooters, the rookies proved themselves worthy allowing the Outlaws to defeat the Hounds. Final Score: Denver 17—Charlotte 13.
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Denver started out of the gate on fire with rookie Chris Cloutier (6G, 2A) putting a true hat-trick on the board for the Outlaws in his Major League debut. Cloutier would fire it into the net at 2:08 (assist Wes Berg), and the other two unassisted at 3:03 and 5:09. Romar Dennis (2G) would find a space between the pipes off his perfect Tewaaraton Trophy
pose ripping it past Charlie Cipriano. Joseph McCallion (2G, 1A) would be the only Hounds to put it past Jack Kelly in the first. Eric Law (5G) would score back-to-back goals with Kylor Bellistri (3G) closing it out. Score at the end of one: Outlaws 7—Hounds 1.
Charlotte would silence the crowd in the second frame outscoring Denver 3-1. The net minders held strong in each end not allowing the powerful shooters on both side to score. At 7:29 Kevin Crowley would get his only point on the night with the assist to Kevin Cooper breaking the silence. Cloutier would team up with Eli Gobrecht about four minutes later. But Charlotte would control the last five minutes of play with Ryan Brown (3G) and John Haus (2G, 2A) who would come at Kelly on the break scoring with only nine seconds in the first half. Score at the end of two: Denver 8—Charlotte 4.
The Hounds came out of the locker room fired up. They would go on a three goal run with Cooper (3G, 1A) starting it up with an unassisted bullet at 4:03. Jacob Richards followed next only 20 seconds later; with John Crawley winding up for the unassisted shot over the shoulder of Kelly. That would be it for Charlotte as Denver would go on a run of their own. This time four goals, with Law getting his hat-trick; Cloutier putting up two more, an unassisted power-play goal and the other an unassisted shot. Not to be outdone, Mickie Schlosser would put his own unassisted goal on the board with two seconds remaining. In the frame, six of the seven goals were unassisted. Score at the end of three: Denver 12—Charlotte 7.
In the fourth the fans got to see the guns a blazin’. Charlotte would outscore Denver six goals to five; and a total of 11 goals in the frame. Each team would see their shooters start off the last 15 with unassisted shots on the board-Bellistri for Denver; and Cooper for Charlotte. Bellistri would notch his hat-trick (assist Nicholas Tintle) at 4:26. But the Hounds were not going down without a fight. They’d put up another three goal run with Brown starting it off (assist Matt Rambo); Cooper and McCallion in a span of a minute and a half. The Outlaws would get back-to-back shots from Dennis and Law at 10:12 and 10:45 to put them up 16-11. With 4:15 left in the contest, the Hounds tried to make a comeback. Haus and Brown would score for Charlotte and Law would score the final goal for Denver. Final Score: Outlaws 17—Hounds 13.
We noticed in this game the veterans making sure the rookies had as many shooting opportunities as possible. Berg and Law passed the ball to the “Young Guns” giving them a chance to shine in front of their hometown crowd. This type of teamwork shows true sportsmanship by the veterans.
Max Adler in during his first game of the 2018 season dominated at the face-off X, winning 24 of 34 face-offs.
Denver has the bye-week over the Memorial Day weekend and the Hounds headed home facing the 2018 MLL Champions the Ohio Machine going on to defeat them by the score of 14-12.
The Outlaws (2-4) will head out to Charlotte for a rematch against the Hounds (5-1) on Saturday June 2, 2018.
Di Miller, Beat Writer Denver Outlaws
Lacrosse is Awesome