Di Miller, Beat Writer Denver Outlaws
Lacrosse is Awesome
The Denver Outlaws (7-6) after winning six in a row have lost their previous two contests, the first to the Dallas Rattlers (10-3) on Saturday July 21, 2018; and the second to the Chesapeake Bayhawks (9-4) on Saturday July 28, 2018. With the loss in Chesapeake the Outlaws lost their chance at a home-field playoff game with the Bayhawks making the cut.
Since July 4, 2018 the teams last contest ending in a victory, the 2018 World Lacrosse Championships took place. During that time, starting net minder Jack Kelly would go down with a season ending injury during the Team USA vs. Team Australia game on Saturday July 14, 2018. Since that time, Denver has seen Kaisuke Iwamoto their third string net minder set up between the pipes in the game against the Rattlers on July 21. Iwamoto would give up 10 goals on 21 shots and was pulled with 10:54 remaining in the game in favor of fourth string net minder Matt Hanley. Hanley made two saves on four shots. The loss broke their six-game winning streak. The Outlaws were defeated by the Rattlers, final score: 12-11.
On Saturday July 28, 2018 Denver would head to Chesapeake in the hopes of clinching that second place playoff spot and home-field advantage for the first round on August 11. Again, Denver was without Kelly and so Dillon Ward, their backup net minder would get his first start of the season and set up between the pipes for the Outlaws. Ward would stop 12 of 23 shots giving up 11 goals and was replaced with 1:02 in the game with another backup goalie, Christian Knight who saw no action in the last 62 seconds of play. Final Score: Chesapeake 13—Denver 11.
Heading into Saturday’s contest, Denver can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Atlanta (7-6) who have become hot during the last few weeks of the season. If they lose the contest, they will have to await the outcome of the New York Lizards (7-6) vs. Chesapeake Bayhawks game. The Outlaws will be without rookie Chris Cloutier who suffered a serious knee injury in the game against the Rattlers on July 22, so Wes Berg
midfielder for the Outlaws will see more action in the attack position. Max Adler has been stellar at the faceoff “X” and is currently leading the league in the category. Eric Law continues to be a force in the Outlaws offensive line scoring his seventh hat trick of 2018 and has set a new career high with 53 points (35G, 18A) this season.
This weekend has some very important ramifications for the Outlaws. If they win, they’ll head to their 12th post season of play in their 13 year franchise history. If they lose, they’re fate is in the hands of the Bayhawks who will face the Lizards and are coming off a close but important victory against the Dallas Rattlers on July 28.
Di Miller, Beat Writer Denver Outlaws
Lacrosse is Awesome