The Denver Outlaws continue to carry the momentum from their 2016 MLL Championship through to the 2017 season, picking up their third win of the season in Sunday’s home opener against Charlotte.
The Outlaws are now 3-0 after defeating the winless Hounds (0-3) by a score of 11-7, tallying scores from six different players.
The team celebrated their 2016 MLL Championship in a pregame ceremony that included a banner unveiling, highlight video and welcome message from team President Mac Freeman.
Tom Kelly’s 15 faceoff wins (71.4 percent) and a 36-31 groundball advantage, highlighted by defenseman Matt Bocklet’s team-high six, helped Denver dominate possession. The Outlaws took advantage, outshooting the Hounds 31-18.
“That was a hard-fought defensive battle,” head coach B.J. O’Hara said postgame. “Both goalies played outstanding. To have the advantage through possession really made a difference. It takes a lot of pressure off the offense because they don’t have to score every time they get the ball.”
Denver goalie Jack Kelly stopped 11-of-18 shots in the win.
Attackmen Eric Law, Mike Bocklet and Matt Kavanagh and midfielder Jeremy Sieverts led the way offensively, each contributing two goals and one assist.
Denver didn’t cruise to the victory, though. Charlotte opened up a 3-1 lead in an electric first quarter that included nine goals and a 45-minute lighting-delay. A two-point goal by defenseman Michael Simon with just under three minutes to play in the first quarter turned the tide of the game and sparked a 7-2 Outlaws run to close the first-half.
Denver outscored Charlotte 3-2 in the second half to remain unbeaten in 2017. Including their 2016 playoffs run, the Outlaws have now won 11 consecutive games. Denver closed the 2016 regular season with six straight wins to qualify for the playoffs via a tiebreaker, then won both games needed to secure the Steinfeld Cup, and now have opened 2017 with three wins a row.
The Outlaws head back on the road Saturday hoping to keep the streak alive against the Florida Launch (5 p.m. MDT faceoff).
Featured Image Credit: Pretty Instant, Denver Outlaws