Di Miller, Beat Writer Denver Outlaws
Lacrosse is Awesome
On Saturday June 16, 2018 the Denver Outlaws (5-4) hosted the Florida Launch (3-6) on a beautiful night in the Mile High City. The 4,734 Denver fans would see Eric Law break the record for most goals scored by an Outlaw in a single game with seven. And Graham Bocklet, cousin to Matt Bocklet would take the field for his first MLL appearance. It was a stellar evening for the squad as they would defeat the Launch by the score of 26-15.
Florida jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead less than two minutes after the opening face-off. Max Adler the Outlaws new face-off man would not disappoint tonight winning 23 of 41. Nick Mariano (3G, 1A) hit back to back goals quickly quieting the fans. But Connor Keating (1G) would start his MLL career with a 2-point goal at 2:25 (assist Josh Hawkins) after a turnover by Florida as he ran down the field, planted just outside the two-point arc line and fired it past Austin Kaut for the first of three two-pointers in the contest. Eric Law (7G, 4A) would score his first of seven in the game as he came around the net and dunked it in past Kaut. The Launch would go on a three-goal run, two from Connor Buczek (3G, one 2-pt G, 1A) followed by Jules Heningburg (4G). But Denver would close out the first frame with another from Law; and Drew Snider (1G, 1A) on the power-play at 11:42. There would be three unassisted goals in the frame, two from Denver and one from Florida. Score at the end of one: Denver 6-Florida 6.
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The second quarter was a scoring frenzy with another 15 goals going up on the board. The Launch would fire it up with Steven Brooks (1G) only 34 seconds in; followed by Buczek with his 2pt goal fooling Jack Kelly on the power-play off the pushing penalty called on Josh Hawkins at the 55 second mark when a push from behind sent a Florida defender out of bounds. Denver would go on an astonishing seven goal run and controlling the next five minutes on the clock. Law got the party started followed by Romar Dennis (1G, one 2pt G, 1A); Matt Kavanagh
(1G, 1A); Chris Cloutier (4G); Kylor Bellistri (4G); and Wes Berg (1G, 1A). Dylan Molloy (1G, 1A) the leading scorer for the Launch and seventh in the league brought a halt to the barrage; along with Kieran McArdle (1G) who came across the right side and sent it past the stick of Kelly. There would be three more in the first half, Bellistri and Cloutier for Denver; and Heningburg for the Launch. The net-minders headed into the contest evenly matched and in the first Kaut and Kelly each had six saves on 11 shots; but the second was a completely different story with Kelly having two saves on eight shots and Kaut with zero out of nine. Score at the end of two: Outlaws 14—Launch 11.
Florida would start off the third much the same as the first two frames, scoring in under 60 seconds. Buczek; and Mariano would hit their final two on the night. Denver would outscore the Launch five to two in the third. Law; Dennis with a 2pt goal; Zach Currier (1G), Bellistri, and Cloutier with one apiece. The night would end for Kaut after the 2pt shot from the right side at 6:41 and Jack Concannon headed for the net. Score at the end of the third: Denver 20—Florida 13.
Denver headed into the last 15 dominating the Launch again holding them to a second consecutive quarter only allowing two goals while putting up another six. Heningburg would put up the lone goals for Florida, with Denver seeing Mikie Schlosser hitting net twice both unassisted; Law with two; Cloutier and Bellistri with one apiece. Final Score: Outlaws 26—Launch 15.
Stars of the Game:
Denver—Eric Law (7G, 4A) 11 points
Florida—Jules Heningburg (4G, 3A) 7 points
Next Up:
Denver (5-4) will head to Fortress Field in Ohio to face the Machine (2-5) on June 23, and Florida (3-6) will head to Charlotte to face the Hounds (6-3).
Di Miller, Beat Writer Denver Outlaws
Lacrosse is Awesome