Denver, CO—
The penalty-plagued Charlotte Hounds (4-5) fell to the Denver Outlaws (9-0) by a score of 17-11 at Sports Authority Field last night. The Hounds started the game with some offensive fireworks, as long-pole Ryan Flanagan picked up a key ground ball which lead to a Matt Danowski goal only 23 seconds into the game. The teams traded scores throughout the quarter, but an unassisted goal by Jake Tripucka gave the underdog Hounds a 5-4 lead to end the first quarter. The second quarter was when things started to get out of hand, as the Hounds totaled an astounding ELEVEN penalty minutes, which included three unsportsmanlike fouls (Two by Joe Cinosky, and one for Danowski). The penalties put all of the Hounds’ first-quarter work to waste, as the Outlaws went on a 6-0 run to end the first half.
3 flags and a hat. What started as a questionable call has gotten out of hand.
— Charlotte Hounds (@CharlotteMLL) June 30, 2013
The third quarter lead to much more clean play, but the Outlaws still won the quarter 7-5, mainly in part to player-of-the-game Jesse Schwartzman totaling a career-best 27 saves on 37 shots (.729 save %). The Hounds shut out the Outlaws high-octane offense in the fourth quarter, but were only able to cash-in one goal themselves (Mike Sawyer, unassisted).
Although the scoreline didn’t show it, the Hounds showed they could play with the best in the league, outshooting the Outlaws 37-33 and dominating the face-offs 18-31. Take away the mental errors in the second quarter, this game easily could’ve gone either way despite Schwartzman’s freak game.
Next week, the Hounds continue their road trip in Boston to play the red-hot Cannons (4-5). Both teams are tied for fourth in the playoff standings, and the game could separate which team is a contender, and which is pretender.
