As fireworks from their annual Fourth of July game exploded overhead at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, the Denver Outlaws (10-0) celebrated a pair of Major League Lacrosse records after their 16-7 win over the New York Lizards (3-7).
In front of a MLL record 31,019 fans, the Outlaws became the first team in league history to open up the season with 10 straight wins. The victory over New York also extends the regular-season win streak to 16 straight games, dating back to July 4, 2012.
All-Star attackman Chris Bocklet lead the way for the Outlaws with five points off of four goals and an assist, while midfielder Drew Snider put up a hat-trick performance. For the second consecutive week goalie Jesse Schwartzman was stellar in net, earning Player of the Game honors for stopping 12 of 17 shots launched on-goal.
New York came ready to compete and took an early 2-0 lead to start the game, before Snider netted his first goal to put Denver on the board. The Lizards strong start continued with another pair of back-to-back goals before the mid-way point of the quarter, putting the Outlaws in a 4-1 hole.
After allowing a fourth goal, Denver’s defense stiffened up and stymied any further scoring effort in the half for the Lizards. After a goal from attackman Eric Law, the Outlaws were able to capitalize on a power-play opportunity. All-Star attackman Brendan Mundorf found fellow All Star Jeremy Sieverts on the two-point arc seconds before the end of the 1st quarter to tie the game up 4-4.
A defensive battle ensued throughout the second quarter, as a determined Denver side kept New York out of the scoring column. Bocklet beat the Lizards defense with an unassisted goal that was followed up by another goal from Snider, before Bocklet put in his second to end the scoring for the half. After keeping their opponent out of the net for the entire second quarter, Denver took a 7-4 lead into halftime.
Mundorf started the second-half scoring with back-to-back goals, before the Lizards stopped the bleeding with their first goal in almost two quarters. Denver answered the lone New York goal of the quarter with two of their own, to head into the fourth up 11-5.
Bocklet scored his third and fourth goal to open the final quarter up, followed by goals from Snider and Law. Attackman Rob Pannell put in back-to-back goals for the Lizards late in the quarter, but the comeback was thwarted as Denver put in their last goal of the match with 25 seconds left in regular to end the game 16-7.
With a 10-0 record Denver has placed itself securely a top the MLL, leading Hamilton by three-and-a-half games for the top spot. The worst they can finish is 10-4, and with Rochester, Chesapeake, New York and Hamilton remaining on the schedule the remaining opponents have already been beaten once this season by the Outlaws.
Denver hits the road July 20 for the first time since mid-June to take on the Rochester Rattlers, after the MLL All-Star game July 13 that will feature eight Outlaws players.
