By: Lopa Rahman
With a 17-11 win against the Charlotte Hounds, Denver Outlaws tied the best start in league history and clinched an MLL Playoff berth. The last team to open its season with nine straight wins is the 2005 Chesapeake Bayhawks.
The Outlaws’ Jesse Schwartzman earned Player of the Game honors after making a career-high 27 saves, the second-most in club history. The goalie kept the Hounds (4-5), who entered the game ranked second in the league in scoring offense and outshot the Outlaws (9-0) 37-33, largely at bay.
“[Jesse] won the game for us,” Denver Head Coach Jim Stagnitta said. “He made some phenomenal saves. He didn’t start out very well. I was a little concerned in the first quarter, but he certainly shut the door in the second, third, and fourth quarter. He was terrific.”
On the offensive end of the field, Eric Law led all scorers with four goals. Sieverts, Brendan Mundorf, and Chris Bocklet each completed a hat trick.
The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair. Charlotte’s Matt Danowski netted a goal 23 seconds in before Law and Zack Greer scored to give Denver a 2-1 lead. The two teams traded goals through the rest of the period, with the Hounds’ Jake Tripucka notching the last tally of the quarter to put Charlotte up 5-4 heading into the second. The last time that the Outlaws trailed after the first period was in their season opener against the Hounds on April 27.
Four penalties were called on Charlotte early in the second quarter. Denver capitalized on its advantage, recording two powerplay goals within the first three minutes of the period. The Outlaws reeled off four more goals—including another powerplay goal—and held the Hounds scoreless for the entirety of the quarter.
“We weren’t really happy with the way we played in the first quarter,” Mundorf said. “We knew we had to give more effort, and the team responded. We were sharper, we were getting more ground balls, and we were better in between the lines.”
Denver continued its offensive onslaught in the third period, outscoring Charlotte 7-4. Sieverts, Law, and Bocklet led the Outlaws’ third-quarter effort with two goals apiece. The final period was quiet for both teams, with the Hounds’ Mike Sawyer recording the lone tally of the quarter.
Denver hopes to become the first team in league history to start a season with 10 wins when it takes on the New York Lizards in the annual Mile High Fourth of July. The Lizards are the only team in the MLL who the Outlaws haven’t played yet this year.
“The Fourth of July should be a great evening,” Sieverts said. “It’s always a great night here in Denver. We haven’t played New York yet, but we know that they’re a very talented team, especially on the offensive end of the field. We know the challenge for us and we’re looking forward to it and for putting on a good show for all the fans.”