The Denver Outlaws (6-4) defeated the defending MLL champion Ohio Machine (2-6) Saturday afternoon 17-13 to extend their winning streak to five straight games. With the victory, the Outlaws put some distance between themselves and the New York Lizards (4-5) as the battle for a playoff spot continues.
Outlaws rookie Chris Cloutier continued his dominant rookie season with a six-goal performance to lead the way for the Outlaws. Along with Cloutier, Outlaws midfielder Mikie Schlosser recorded a hat trick, recording his fourth consecutive game with three points in a game.
Schlosser has also recorded at least one point in each game played this season.
With a slow start to the game where the Outlaws would trail 4-3 following the first quarter, the Outlaws got things going by scoring six goals in the second quarter, including a hat trick from Schlosser.
@MikieSchlosser scores 3 goals in less than 3 minutes for the @DenverOutlaws. WATCH FREE Denver vs @MachineMLL at https://t.co/oJkK8CQ2nw or download the LSN app here: https://t.co/QyCj6BaBwK pic.twitter.com/x926adflmJ
— Lacrosse TV (@WatchLacrosseTV) June 23, 2018
The Outlaws gained some lead way with a three-goal scoring run in the second quarter, with Outlaws rookie attackman Cloutier scoring the final goal in the quarter to give the Outlaws a 9-7 lead heading into halftime.
With the Outlaws carrying momentum into the third quarter, Outlaws attackman Kylor Bellistri notched a goal of the year candidate for the first goal of the quarter to extend the Outlaws lead.
Goal of the Year candidate thrown down by Kylor Bellistri! Somehow gets this one-handed goal to go WATCH FREE @DenverOutlaws vs @MachineMLL at https://t.co/oJkK8CQ2nw or download the LSN app here: https://t.co/QyCj6BaBwK pic.twitter.com/QTvyQ6h8In
— Lacrosse TV (@WatchLacrosseTV) June 23, 2018
Following a couple of goals from the Machine, the Outlaws defense locked down the Machine’s offense, while the offense would score three unanswered goals to close out the third quarter — with two goals coming from Cloutier to give the Outlaws the 13-9 lead over the Machine heading into the fourth quarter.
However, the Machine came out strong in the fourth quarter with Machine midfielder Peter Baum scoring two goals to cut the Outlaws lead to a one-goal advantage.
With the Machine nipping at their heels, the Outlaws responded with a three-goal scoring run of their own started by Cloutier scoring two more goals, and Outlaws veteran attackman Matt Kavanagh notching a goal of his own.
The Machine came out hard in the dying minutes of the fourth quarter, with Machine attackman Marcus Holman notching a goal of his own. However, Cloutier closed out the game with his sixth goal of the game.
