The two-point shot is one of the most exciting plays in Major League Lacrosse, and nobody does it better than the Denver Outlaws. The first-year expansion team has fired 12 shots into the net from beyond the 15-yard arc, six more than the closest team.
Denver’s Jeff Sonke leads the MLL with four two-point goals. Fellow midfielders Josh Sims and Mike Law have netted three and two, respectively.
The threat of the shot, which can aid a rally or provide a cushion, is also a factor. Brian Langtry has scored only once from long range, but he’s a constant threat from the perimeter. Defenses that have converged on the Parker resident have been dismayed by his ability to find an open teammate en route to his eight assists, tied for third in the MLL.
“It is a strength for us and one of the reasons we acquired those guys,” Outlaws general manager Brian Reese said.
According to Reese, the laser- like shots by Sonke, Sims, Law and Langtry rank among those with the greatest velocity in the MLL, averaging 95 to 105 mph.
“It is not just speed,” Reese said. “They have great accuracy, and they use deception to fool goalkeepers.”
Langtry has arguably the greatest cannon. Along with Law, Langtry is known for a full-range windup, whereas Sonke has a lightning-fast release and Sims uses a combination of fakes and whipping action.
While midfielders usually slam the often over-the-shoulder shots from afar, Denver attackman Matt Brown showed he can score from long range. With the Outlaws trailing San Francisco 24-18 on Saturday and 1:23 to play, the two-pointer was the best option and Brown delivered. Denver could not come up with the ensuing faceoff, and the Dragons scored.
Best seats
Through three home games, the Outlaws have attracted the largest (13,167) and second-largest (10,157) regular-season crowds in the MLL’s six-year history. Denver leads the MLL with an average of 10,476.
Rochester, which has played one home game, ranks second at 6,116. Eastern Conference leader Philadelphia (4-0), another of the six original East Coast-based teams, has played three home games and is averaging 1,849.
Among the other expansion teams, Los Angeles is averaging 5,516 through two games, Chicago is at 2,254 through two games and San Francisco drew 5,671 to its lone home game. The league average is 4,480.
Footnotes
Brown leads all rookies with 15 points on 12 goals, including the two-pointer, and two assists. The 2005 University of Denver graduate did not play in the MLL last summer because he was not drafted. … The Outlaws (3-1) travel to Rutgers University to play the Pride on Saturday. New Jersey (3-1) fields MLL scoring leader Scott Utrick (19 points off 14 goals, five assists). Kyle Harrison, a key part of 2005 NCAA champion Johns Hopkins, is the Pride’s best midfielder. … New Jersey’s Jesse Hubbard is two goals shy of reaching 200, a milestone achieved by one MLL player, Baltimore’s Mark Millon.
