The Denver Outlaws (8-0) look to keep their unbeaten streak alive, as they host the Charlotte Hounds (4-4) in the regular-season series finale between the two teams.
With a ninth straight victory Denver would tie the Major League Lacrosse record for best start to the season, but the team has its sights set higher than a record start.
“What’s important is that you make the Final Four weekend and that you win the last game you play in,” Head Coach Jim Stagnitta said. “9-0, someone else’s record – tying it or beating it – that’s all great, but that’s not what these guys are focused on everyday.”
The Hounds hosted Denver to open the 2013 MLL season, only to fall 21-16 behind a six-goal performance from attackman Matt Bocklet. While the Outlaws has never lost to Charlotte, with a perfect 3-0 all-time record, they will expect stiff competition from a team coming off an overtime win over the Chesapeake Bayhawks.
“Every game is a big game,” Stagnitta said. “We’re certainly going into that (Hounds) game knowing that they’re on a couple-game winning streak. They’re a talented team, and certainly they’ll have our attention…”
With a roster that features eight All Stars, the Outlaws are taking the league by storm with their thwarting defense and explosive offense. While they’ve found a way to win each game they’ve played so far, Denver is looking to improve upon their style of play that has gotten them to an 8-0 start.
“We haven’t had a day yet where everybody has come together and really played at the top of their game and that’s for a lot of different reasons – travel, jobs, focus, bumps and bruises and things like that,” Stagnitta said about the room for improvement with the Outlaws. “I would just like to see us be consistently more composed and stay to our system through all four quarters.”
After a putting up a record-setting performance June 22 against the Ohio Machine, Charlotte’s lead scorers will have to be on top of their game to attempt to out-score Denver. The Hounds’ defense will have their hands full with the most dangerous offense in the MLL, while visiting face off specialist Tim Fallon battles with Anthony Kelly for possessions.
With the full support of their home crowd behind them and danger-some weapons on both sides of the ball, the Outlaws are poised to finish the season series with Charlotte in the win column – not to mention tying the 2005 Baltimore Bayhawks record 9-0 start.
Denver and Charlotte will face off 5 p.m. EST at Sports Authority Field at Mile High June 29.
