Photo Credit: Di Miller
On Saturday August 16, the Denver Outlaws (9-5) and the second place seed will host the New York Lizards (9-5) the third place seed for the first ever home play-off game in Denver, Colorado at Peter Barton Stadium on the University of Denver Campus. The first time the two teams met was June 14 and the Outlaws defeated the Lizards by the score of 16-11. The second meeting of the teams was August 9 in New York, when the Lizards defeated the Outlaws in OT by the score of 12-11. Both teams wanted home-field advantage for the play-offs, and the Lizards needed to win by more than four goals to be able to host. Fortunately for the Outlaws, the Lizards couldn’t pull it off.
The format this year is a first for the MLL. Instead of the typical play-off weekend where the top four teams in the league play on Saturday with the championship game on Sunday, the top two seeds host their first ever home field play-off game. Playing in front of your home crowd in any play-off game is definitely an advantage as seen by the records both the Outlaws and Lizards share. Each team is 6-1 at home and 3-4 away. This gives the Outlaws a huge advantage heading into this play-off weekend.
Denver has made the play-offs each of the nine years they have been in the league, but have yet to take home the Steinfeld Cup. Their play-off record is 4-8 (.333%). The Lizards have won two Steinfeld Cup’s, the first in 2001 and the second in 2003. Their play-off record is 7-4 (.636%).
The Outlaws should have Anthony Kelly back on FOGO (159-303 FOW, .524 FOPCT). He’ll go up against one of the best FOGO’s in the league Greg Gurenlian (201-239 FOW, .610 FOPCT). In net, you’ve got Jesse Schwartzman for the Outlaws, most definitely one of the best goalies in the league (12.13 GAA, .560 SV%) going up against Drew Adams (11.67 GAA, .530 SV%).
Both teams have strong midfield and attack lines. The Outlaws have John Grant Jr., who is third in the league with 28 G, 26 A, 9 GB, .350 SPCT; Eric Law who is tied for fifth with 36 G, 16 A, 9 GB, .500 SPCT; Jeremy Sieverts 10th with 23 G, seven 2ptG (most in the league), 18 A, 12 GB, .274 SPCT; and Drew Snider tied for 21st with 27 G, 5 A, 17 GB, .346 SPCT. Whereas, the Lizards have only two players in the top 25, Rob Pannell who is sitting second with 33 G, 23 A, 16 GB, .266 SPCT; and Tommy Palasek tied for 24th with 26 G, 3 A, 8 GB, .426 SPCT.
The way both teams have figured out how to make not only their offensive but defensive lines improve throughout the season is the reason the two teams will meet for the third and final time this season to see who will head to the MLL Championship game at Fifth Third Bank Stadium on the campus of Kennesaw State University near Kennesaw, Georgia on August 23.
Fans are going to be treated to an exciting game. As always, the key to winning a game is the face-offs. If Kelly is healthy, the match-up with Gurenlian is going to be a battle. Both players are experienced in the FOGO position, have amazing stick skills, and strength.
The Outlaws have waited a year to get their chance to advance to the championship game. Their talent, coaching, and teamwork are evident again this year. If they can defeat the Lizards in front of their hometown fans, they will take that momentum to Georgia and go on to win their first championship game in the history of the Outlaws franchise.
