The Denver Outlaws are ready for their home opener at Sports Authority Field in downtown Denver on Sunday May 4 against the Ohio Machine. Sunday’s game is Star Wars night. Both teams will be donning Star Wars themed jerseys. Denver jerseys will represent the Rebel Alliance with orange X-Wing Pilot jerseys, and Ohio will represent the Imperial Storm Troopers with white jerseys. This will be the first Star Wars game in MLL history, Denver fans are ready to see their Outlaws back in action, and the weather will be perfect for some exciting MLL lacrosse!
Last weekend the Outlaws defeated the Florida Launch by the score of 14-10. The Machine were also victorious over the Charlotte Hounds 15-9. Both the Outlaws and Machine started out strong. The Outlaws scored 11 of their 14 goals in the first half, and their final three in the fourth quarter. The Machine were strong in the first quarter, scoring six goals, the second-most all time in any single quarter for the club, which marked the first time in team history that Ohio held an opponent scoreless in the first quarter. They were held to one goal in the second, but came alive again in the third with five goals. They, like the Outlaws, only scored three goals in the final quarter of play.
S0 how do the teams match up, and who will come away with their second win of the season? I had the opportunity to ask Outlaws General Manager Tony Seaman what his thoughts were about the Outlaws and the Machine.
I wanted to know what Tony’s thoughts were about last weekend’s game against the Launch, and what he thought went wrong in the second half. He said:
“Lacrosse is a 60-minute game filled with ups and downs. We played very well in the first half. The second half was a combination of the Launch’s goalie playing extremely well, making many difficult saves, our own team taking turns making unforced turnovers that lead to their goals, and Florida playing well. It’s early in the season, and every team is really good so no one is ever completely out of the game.”
What about Chris Bocklet, who as always was stellar? I asked Tony what he saw as his strengths and how he seems to score such amazing goals. Tony commented:
“Chris Bocklet is an exceptional shooter. He has pin-point accuracy, gets himself in great positions to catch a pass, and finish the shot. Our players know to look for him, and he has the ability to catch the ball in a crowd, withstand checks and still score the ball.”
It was great to see Eric Law on the field during last week’s game. I asked Tony if he will be in the line-up for this weekend’s game being that the Toronto Rock are in the first round of the NLL playoffs on Saturday night? Tony said, “Eric Law will be playing for the Denver Outlaws this Sunday at Sports Authority Field.”
I was curious about who Tony thought might be Denver’s top three offensive and defensive players, and why. Tony had this to say:
“It’s a new season and really unfair to pick the top three. Both the offense and defense schemes that we use are based on team play. As good a shooter as Chris Bocklet is, it takes the other five players to create situations that enable us to get him the ball in areas where he can shoot the ball. Defensively we rely on team defense, and of course a goalie who can save the ball. Let’s wait and see how the season develops before we start highlighting all-stars.”
Which of the Machine players should the Outlaws watch out for? Tony said:
“Ohio beat up the Charlotte Hounds last Saturday. Their offense was lead by Harrison and Baum who are very good dodgers with the ball, and both have very good shots on the run which make them difficult to defend. Defensively, Wiedmaier was outstanding for them, shutting out Charlotte’s best Attackmen Danowski. Rogers was also very good in the goal for them”
How do you feel the goalies match up? Tony commented:
“No one is better in the goal then Jesse Schwartzman. He is an outstanding stopper, understands and runs the defense better than any goalie I have ever coached, and throws one of the best outlet passes in the league. Rogers for Ohio had an outstanding game last weekend, and needs to do the same again this week to compete on the same level as Jesse.”
My final question to Tony was about Anthony Kelly who was amazing at FOGO against the Launch. I asked him how he thinks Kelly will do up against the Machine’s FOGO? Tony had this to say:
“Anthony Kelly had a good game on the initial draw against Mattes of the Launch, but has been much better in picking up loose ground balls, as well as transferring the ball to our Attackmen. You are always a little rusty in the early part of the season, and we expect big things from ‘The Train’ this weekend.”
Each of the two teams has three players in the top 10 for Leading Scorers according to MajorLeagueLacrosse.com. For the Outlaws you’ve got Chris Bocklet, Attack, tied for sixth with 4 G, 1 A, 7 SOG, and an SPCT of .333; Eric Law, Attack who is tied for 10th with 3 G, 1 A, 5 SOG, and an SPCT of .600; and Jeremy Sieverts, Midfield also tied for 10th with 2 G (both PPG, and one of which was a two-point goal), 1 A, 4 GB, 7 SOG, and an SPCT of .182.
The Machine have three players tied for 10th. You’ve got Kyle Harrison, Midfield with 3 G, 1 A, 5 SOG, 1 GB, and an SPCT of .333; Peter Baum, Midfield with 3 G (one PPG goal), 1 A, 5 SOG, and an SPCT of .375; and Marcus Holman, Attack with 2 G, 2 A, 1 GB, 4 SOG, and an SPCT of .400.
Your goalie matchup looks like this:
Jesse Schwartzman, Denver Outlaws—9 GA, 13 saves, 22 SOG, save percentage .619
Scott Rodgers, Ohio Machine—8 GA, 23 saves, 31 SOG, save percentage .742
In 2013, the Outlaws defeated the Machine in both meetings between the two teams. The first was on May 4 when Denver won 13-8. The second time the two teams met in Ohio on June 22, the Outlaws again defeated the Machine 19-5.
So, with the Machine coming off a strong win last weekend, and the Outlaws desire to keep their regular season win-streak going, and reaching that 22nd game mark, this will definitely be a great game. In my opinion, I think the Outlaws have more depth on the offensive side of the field, their defense is spectacular, and they have the 2013 Warrior Goalie of the Year, Jesse Schwartzman.
