The Denver Outlaws returned to Sports Authority Field at Mile High for their home-field opener May 18, dismantling the Rochester Rattlers 20-7 to remain unbeaten this season.
Five Outlaws players put in multi-goal performances, including attackman Chris Bocklet’s six-goal, two-assist performance. Bocklet’s sock trick – scoring six or more goals in a game – is his second of the season after he netted six gals in Denver’s season-opener April 27, and gave him Player of the Game honors.
“Tonight was terrific,” Head Coach Jim Stagnitta said about Bocklet’s performance. “They weren’t just goals, they were great shots in tight spots – inside pipe, high pipe – just places that couldn’t be saved.”
While Bocklet stole the spotlight with his explosive offensive presence, multiple Outlaws had Play-of-the-Game-like performances. Attackmen Jeremey Boltus and Brendan Mundorf both contributed multi-goal games, with a five-goal and four-goal performance, respectively. The attack didn’t stop there, however, as both Boltus and Mundorf also dished out two assists each.
“This team is very unselfish,” 2012 MLL MVP Mundorf said. “We all share the ball. Everyone can dodge and create, and everyone can finish. That makes us hard to stop, and creates a lot of guys scoring points.”
While the Denver offense was creating havoc on the offensive end, their defensive squad held steady all game and gave up very little to the Rochester offense. Heading the defensive stronghold was nine-year veteran defenseman Lee Zink, who stymied the Rattlers’ main offensive threat attackman Ned Crotty.
“I was just trying to get in his hands, and tie his hands up,” Zink said about defending Crotty. “That’s all you can do against players in this league.”
“Rochester came in with their best player, Ned Crotty, and you never had any idea that Crotty even played tonight,” Denver General Manager Tony Seaman added. “Lee Zink completely took him out of the game. That was unbelievable to watch.
Zink and the Denver defense made it difficult for Rochester to find a shot on goal, while goalie Jesse Schwartzman kept the ball out of the net with 10 saves in three quarters.
“Jesse has been great back-to-back weeks. He’s beat up. He’s getting hit with the ball. He’s been consistent,” Stagnitta said about the goaltender’s performance. “ I think he’s been playing as well as he had at any point last year.”
The Outlaws took control of the match early, as Bocklet and Mundorf scored two goals each in the first quarter to give Denver a 4-1 lead, which was extended to 9-3 after two quarters due to back-to-back goals from Boltus to end the second quarter. Going into the half Bocklet had already out-scored the Rattlers’ offense, as he netted four first-half goals.
“We’re a very deep team, especially in the midfield,” midfielder Justin Turri, who contributed two goals and an assist in the win, said. “We just share the ball and play well together, which gets us a lot of goals.”
Rochester came out firing in the third-quarter, scoring twice in the first five minutes in an effort to stop the bleeding. Their effort was short lived, however, as the Outlaws put five goals in net and kept the Rattlers scoreless the rest of the quarter.
Up 14-5 entering the fourth quarter, Schwartzman was pulled and backup goalie Charlie Cipriano protected the net for the Outlaws the rest of the way. Denver traded goals with Rochester to open the fourth, before rattling off five-straight goals to put the game out of reach once and for all. The Rattlers ended the scoring on a later goal of their own, however it was too little, too late as Denver walked away with a 20-7 victory.
“It was comfortable for the guys. It was nice to be back,” Stagnitta said about the home opener. “ The altitude – I think our guys do have some experience dealing with that. And, just being in front of our home crowd in this new facility.”
Denver has a week to recuperate after their 4-0 start to the season, and will remain at home in a week-three re-match versus the Boston Cannons on May 31.
