With a 14-12 victory over the Chesapeake Bayhawks (7-5), the Denver Outlaws (12-0) closed out the regular-season series between the two teams by clinching the top spot in Major League Lacrosse’s Championship Weekend.
The Outlaws unbeaten 12-0 record sets the league record for best winning percentage in a season, as well as extended the record for best start to a season. Denver has also won 18-straight regular season games, putting the previous record of seven-straight regular season wins at a very distant second.
“You cant help but think about going undefeated,” Head Coach Jim Stagnitta said. “It’s not about going undefeated, honestly, we really have approached every game one week at a time… Regardless of what we are going to be doing with the approach of our lineup, our goal is to win that game.”
Midfielder Jeremy Sieverts led the Outlaws offense with a personal season-high four goals, which also earned him the Player of the Game award. Midfielder Drew Snider chipped in with a hat-trick of his own, as the Denver found offense from various contributors.
Chesapeake’s defense came in with a solid game-plan on defense, holding the Outlaws lead scorers attackmen Chris Bocklet and Brendan Mundorf without a single point.
Vying to clinch a playoff spot, the Bayhawks responded quickly after Sieverts opened the scoring with an unassisted goal less than a minute into the quarter. Former Outlaw attackman Drew Westervelt scored three of the four Chesapeake goals in three minutes, as Denver found itself in a 4-1 hole early.
Chesapeake netted another goal in the first minute of the second quarter to build a 5-1 lead before Sieverts and Snider both found the back of the net twice throughout the quarter. After a last-minute goal by the Bayhawks, Denver went into halftime down for the first time this season 6-5.
The third-quarter scoring went back and forth between the two teams, as Westervelt hit his fourth goal of the game for Chesapeake before Sieverts matched with his fourth. After a back-and-forth quarter, Denver found a way to outscore the Bayhawks in the quarter 5-4 to bring the score to 10-10 heading into the fourth quarter.
Attackman Zack Greer gave the Outlaws their first lead of the game with his lone goal of the match, as Denver went on a four goal scoring streak to take a lead that would not be handed back to Chesapeake.
After being held scoreless for most of the quarter, the Bayhawks went on a two-goal run to end the game, but it was too little too late as Denver completed their comeback to win 14-12 and clinch the top-spot heading into the post-season.
Face off specialist Anthony Kelly won 15-24 attempts to give Denver the edge in that category and netted a goal himself, while goalie Jesse Schwartzman was once again stellar in net. With 14 saves, Schwartzman out-dueled fellow All-Star goalie Kip Turner, who saved 11 shots.
With two games left in the regular season, the Outlaws will finish out on the road before Championship Weekend. Denver travels to New York Aug 4 to face the Lizards in their regular-season series finale.
