In a Sunday matinee, the Denver Outlaws (7-5) fell to the league-leading Dallas Rattlers (10-2) by a final score of 13-12. The loss snaps the Outlaws six-game winning streak that began with a 17-13 against the Charlotte Hounds on May 19th.
Pushing the pace of the game for the Outlaws were veteran attackman Eric Law (4 goals), attackman Matt Kavanagh (3 goals, 2 assists) and rookie attackman Chris Cloutier (2 goals, 2 assists).
A few familiar faces helped the Rattlers gain the edge, with former Outlaw attackman Chris Bocklet (1 goal, 1 assist) and recently retired Colorado Mammoth attackman Zach Greer (3 goals) to help the Rattlers come away with the victory
Despite the loss, the Outlaws were able to celebrate a historical night as Outlaws goaltender Kaisuke Iwamato made his Outlaws and MLL debut, becoming the first Japanese player to play in the MLL.
“It was just a really wonderful thing that we were able to do for him [Kaisuke Iwamoto], ” Outlaws head coach B.J. O’Hara said, “he really looked like he was having fun out there, and that’s really what it is all about”.
.@DenverOutlaws goalie Kaisuke Iwamoto warms up between the pipes 🥅 Set to become the first Japanese player to play in the MLL | Watch @RattlersLax vs @DenverOutlaws on https://t.co/0uieR13WML or on the ESPN app at 2PM ET/ 12 MT #DALatDEN pic.twitter.com/21nhO4pGJz
— Lacrosse TV (@WatchLacrosseTV) July 22, 2018
Japan was well represented during the game, as friends and family of Iwamoto attended the game to support his historic achievement. Waving the Japan flag, they represented Iwamoto’s home country in fashion.
“It was so great! It is hard to look and find my friends and family in the stands when it is so crowded, but when seeing the flag I always knew they were proud of me and cheering me on, it was really great” Iwamoto said.
Recap
The Outlaws started out the first quarter strong with a three-goal scoring run, with two goals coming from Outlaws veteran attackman Eric Law. Despite the good start, the Rattlers cut down the Outlaws lead with two goals of their own from former Outlaw attackman Chris Bocklet and Ben Reeves.
With the Rattlers nipping at the Outlaws tails following the first quarter, the Outlaws would go another three-goal scoring run to head into halftime with the 6-3 lead.
.@ELaw_15 strikes again with a diving finish | @DenverOutlaws lead @RattlersLax, 7-4, in Q3 | Watch #DALatDEN on https://t.co/0uieR0MlVd & the ESPN app pic.twitter.com/Ka6QXJkt47
— Lacrosse TV (@WatchLacrosseTV) July 22, 2018
With the Outlaws heading into the final quarter of regulation with a 10-7 advantage over the Rattlers, momentum would shift as the Rattlers would quickly close the gap with a four- goalscoring run with two goals coming from Greer and attackman Ryan McNamara each tying the game 11-11.
Although the Outlaws were able to regain the lead for a short moment of time with a goal from Kavanagh, the Rattlers would strike again with two goals of their own to escape Denver with the 13-12 victory.
“We definitely let it slip away from us,” B.J. O’Hara said, “we had a five-goal lead there and then they went on a run and we just couldn’t stop it soon enough. We had our chances, and those are the ones that really eat away at you. To their credit, they continued to battle throughout the game.”
What is next for the Outlaws?
Currently sitting in third place, the Outlaws will look to clinch a playoff berth next weekend against the second place Chesapeake Bayhawks next Saturday at 5 p.m. MDT for the first of two road games to conclude the regular season.
“We still have two games left, and we are still very much alive as far as playoffs go” Coach B.J. O’Hara said following the game against the Rattlers.