Photo Credit: Di Miller
The Denver Outlaws (5-0) have now won their 25th consecutive regular-season game on Friday May 30. They hosted the Charlotte Hounds (1-4) at Sports Authority Field at Mile-High in front of a crowd of 7,118 anxious Outlaws fans. The Outlaws as always put on an exciting game, and their loyal fans were ecstatic. Denver had two players who hit milestones in their careers last night. Matt Bocklet #7, defense had his 300th ground ball, ending the game with 349 career GB’s; and Anthony Kelly #47, Face-off had his 1300th career faceoff win in the second quarter, and also celebrated his birthday. The game would end with the score of 13-11 Outlaws.
The Outlaws are now in third place for Regular-Season win streaks in professional sports history. The 1971-72 LA Lakers are in first with 33; and the 1916 MLB New York Giants are in second with 26. If the Outlaws win their next game against the Hounds on June 7, they will be tied for second place. What can you say about the Outlaws besides the fact that they have put together an amazing squad; they were on the mark in acquisitions; signed key veteran players; and retained the majority of amazing talent from last year, players like Jeremy Sieverts, Chris Bocklet, Matt Bocklet, Jesse Schwartzman, Lee Zink, Eric Law, Drew Snider, Anthony Kelly, Terry Kimener, and many more.
I attended the Outlaws practice on Thursday May 29, where several of the collegiate draft picks were in attendance so Coach B.J. O’Hara, and GM Tony Seaman could see them in action in a scrimmage. Both Jeremy Noble, Midfielder from the University of Denver; and Colin Dunster, Midfielder from Bryant made the cut and played their first games as professional lacrosse players in the MLL. Noble would get his first two assists as an Outlaw, the first to his former DU teammate Law; while Dunster would get his first shot on goal. It was an exciting night to see them in action.
Charlotte would open the game with the first goal by John Haus #26 Midfielder only 2:34 into the game. But the Outlaws stayed true to form by coming out in the first quarter scoring six goals. Michael Simon #66, Midfield; Chris Bocklet #10, Attack; John Grant Jr. #24, Attack scored twice; and Law also scored twice. The only other goal in the first quarter would go to Hounds Mike Sawyer #4, Attack/Midfield. The quarter would end with the Outlaws up by 6-2.
In the second quarter, Charlotte would score four times. Sawyer would get his second goal of the game; while Thomas DeNapoli #88, Midfield; Justin Ward #15, Attack; and John Haus #26, Midfield would also score. The Outlaws would have three goals in the second. Jeremy Sieverts #20, Midfield; Grant Jr., and Law would both get hat-tricks in the second. Score at the end of the half Outlaws 9, Hounds 6.
Going into the second half, the Hounds would tie the game with goals by Mason Poli #55, LSM; and Brett Schmidt #44, Defense with a two-point goal. The only goal the Outlaws would get in the third would come from Cameron Flint #18, Midfield. The third would end with the score 10-9 in favor of the Outlaws.
The fourth quarter would see one goal by the Hounds, when Matt Danowski #40, Attack would get his only goal of the game, a two-point shot which put Charlotte up 11-10. But the Outlaws wanted that 25th win. Matt Bocklet #7, Defense on a break-away would barrel down the field to tie the game at 7:02 on the clock. Only 50 seconds later, his brother Chris Bocklet #10 would get his second goal of the game putting the Outlaws up by one. Grant Jr. would score the final goal of the game at 10:52. Final score 11-13 Outlaws.
Some highlights of the game: Eric Law would get his fourth hat-trick of the season, has scored three or more goals in four of the five Outlaws victories this year, and has at least three points in each of the teams wins this season; John Grant Jr. would again show everyone why he’s the behind-the-back star with his first goal of the game, with his hat-trick has now scored a season-high four goals, and he was also named MVP of the game; and Jeremy Noble, and Colin Dunster would both get their first start in the MLL.
According to MLL.com there are four Outlaws in the top 10 in scoring. Here’s your Denver Outlaws stars:
Tied for third—Eric Law (15 G leading the league in goals, 6 A, .500 SPCT)
Tied for fifth—John Grant Jr. (7 G, 10A, .259 SPCT)
Seventh—Jeremy Sieverts (9 G, 3 two-point goals and still leading the league, 2 PPG, 3 GWG, 3 A, .273 SPCT)
Eighth—Chris Bocklet (9 G, 1 PPG, 2 GWG, 5 A, .300 SPCT)
Team Match-Ups:
Goalies
Outlaws Jesse Schwartzman—22 SOG, 13 S, 9 GA (one 2-pt goal), .590 save percentage
Hounds Adam Ghitelman—30 SOG, 17 S, 13 GA, .566 save percentage
Faceoffs
Outlaws Anthony Kelly—16-26 FOW, 5 GB, .615 FOW percentage
Hounds Tim Fallon—7-15 FOW, 3 GB, .466 FOW percentage
Hounds Brendan Fowler—3-11 FOW, 1 GB, .272 FOW percentage
Special Teams through Game 5
Outlaws—5 PPGF, 10 PPA, 50 PPPCT, Penalty kills—3 PPGA, 14 TSH, 78.57 PKPCT
Hounds—8 PPGF, 13 PPA, 15.38 PPPCT, Penalty kills—8 PPGA, 14 TSH, 42.86 PKPCT (lowest in the league)
The Denver Outlaws have once again shown the league why they are the team to beat. They know how to win games; are making the changes they need to score goals throughout the game; have amazing talent and know how to put it together to score in key situations; and continue to take that momentum into each game.
Next week on June 7 they face Charlotte again at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte is desperate for a win, and want to redeem themselves after the close loss to the Outlaws. But can they do it? The Outlaws play well on the road and at home. If I had to make a bet on who will come out with the win next week, I’ll put my money on the Denver Outlaws.
