Photo Credit: Di Miller
The Denver Outlaws (8-4) took on the Ohio Machine (6-6) on July 26, at Selby Stadium in Delaware, Ohio in front of a crowd of 2,961 fans where the Machine unveiled their All-Black jerseys for “Blackout Polio” night. Denver was hoping for a win to stay in first place, and the Machine who were 0-5 against the Outlaws wanted the win to bring them closer to that fourth play-off spot. Denver was tied with Rochester going into the contest (although they held the head-to-head tie breaker), and the Machine were tied with the Cannons who hold the tie-breaker. The game was in a lightning delay for one hour and fifteen minutes of the first quarter, but that delay only seemed to help the Machine in a spectacular high-scoring game. Ohio broke their franchise record with the highest scoring game in club history; Marcus Holman and Logan Schuss tied the Machine single-game record scoring five goals apiece; and Holman scored the fourth short-handed goal in club history. Final Score in OT 23-22 Ohio.
The first quarter started out with a bang, when only 29 seconds after the face-off Outlaws Attack Chris Bocklet #10, would score unassisted. Jeremy Sieverts #20, Midfield for the Outlaws would score less than two minutes later, followed by Bocklet who would get his second of the game. Machine Attack Logan Schuss #20 would get Ohio on the board after over six scoreless minutes had passed. Kyle Harrison #18, Midfielder for the Machine would be the next to score, followed by Schuss with his second. Steele Stanwick #6, Attack would put the Machine ahead, but Justin Pennington #14, Midfielder for the Outlaws would tie the game with only six seconds left in the quarter. Score at the end of the first 4-4.
Heading into the second, Bocklet would score again giving him the hat-trick. The score would go back and forth throughout the second with goals from Outlaws Colin Dunster #26, Attack; John Grant Jr. #24, Attack (three goals and the hat-trick); and Pennington who would also get the hat-trick and put him at four goals in the game. The Machine would see goals from Stanwick; Schuss (hat-trick) and fourth goal of the game; Marcus Holman #1, Attack; and Peter Baum #15, Midfielder (his 30th of the season). At the end of the first half, the Outlaws would lead 12-9.
At the start of the third, the scoring barrage would begin again. Pennington (Outlaws) and Schuss (Machine) would both get their fifth of the game; Bocklet (Outlaws) would get his fourth of the game; Harrison (Machine) and Baum (Machine) would get hat-tricks. Outlaws Eric Law #15, Attack would get two; Sieverts (Outlaws) would get his second; and there would be goals from Machine players Dominique Alexander #23, Midfielder; and Jake Bernhardt #3, Face-off. Drew Snider #23, Midfielder for the Outlaws would also put one on the board. Score at the end of the third, Outlaws 17-Ohio 16.
With the final quarter of regulation play starting, the Outlaws wasted no time in putting another point on the board when Dunster would get his second of the game only 28 seconds into the quarter. The Outlaws would see Grant Jr. get his fourth and fifth of the game; Snider with his second; and Cam Holding #9, Midfielder with his first. For the Machine, Holman would get the hat-trick and his fourth goal of the game; Schuss would get his fifth; Stanwick would get the hat-trick; and Robert Dattilo #36, Midfield would also score. Holman’s fourth goal of the game at 12:43 would tie the game and be the last goal in the fourth putting the game into OT. Final at the end of regulation 22-22.
Going into over-time, Dattilo would win the face-off but the Machine couldn’t capitalize. Brian Phipps #30, Goalie for the Machine would make a spectacular save giving the Machine a second chance, and it didn’t take long when only 1:45 into OT Harrison would rip one past Outlaws Charlie Cipriano #25, Goalie giving the Machine the win. Final in OT Machine 23-Outlaws 22.
Some quick facts about the game—Eight players between the two teams scored three goals or more; there were 28 unassisted goals between the two teams; and the Outlaws would be the first to score in all four quarters of regulation play.
Game Stats:
Outlaws—22 G, 11 A, 25 GB, 41 SOG, 11 SOF, 18 saves, .439 SPCT, 15-46 FOW, .326 FOPCT, 2-4 PP
Machine—23 G, 6 A, 33 SOG, 13 SOFF, 11 saves, .333 SPCT, 31-46 FOW, .695 FOPCT, 1-1 PP
Scoring Leaders:
Outlaws—Justin Pennington 5 G, 1 GB; John Grant Jr. 5 G, 3 A; and Chris Bocklet 4 G, 1 A
Machine—Marcus Holman 5 G; Logan Schuss 5 G, 1 A; Kyle Harrison 4 G (GWG); Peter Baum 3 G, 2 A; Steele Stanwick 3 G, 1 A
MVP of the game goes to Kyle Harrison of the Machine for his GWG giving Ohio their sixth win of the season and keeping them in play-off contention.
The Denver Outlaws (8-4) head to Navy-Machine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, MD on July 31 to face the last place Chesapeake Bayhawks (3-8) for the first day of “Burn Cancer” week. Game time 7:30 EDT.
