The Outlaws are usually the Major League Lacrosse team pulling out the big guns, while the San Francisco Dragons rely on closer-range shots. In a role reversal in the fourth quarter Saturday, the Dragons’ Tim Booth fired a pair of two-point goals that spelled a 20-19 loss for the Outlaws before 8,847 at Invesco Field at Mile High.
Denver attackman Matt Brown scored with 18.6 seconds left, but a potential game-winning two-pointer or game-tying goal was stymied by the 3-2 Dragons, who gained a 2-1 lead in the series finale against the 4-2 Outlaws. That edge could be invaluable for playoff positioning.
“That was tough, especially as a goalie when you don’t play as well as you can,” said Denver’s all-star goalie, Trevor Tierney. “I feel like I let the team down. The guys played great.”
Booth, who came into the game with no goals from beyond the 15-yard arc, scored a trio from long range. On the game-winner, he carried the winning faceoff upfield and fired without impediment.
“When he’s running like that and unloads, it looks easy to stop from the stands, but it is going 100 miles per hour,” Tierney said.
In front of Tierney, Denver defenders slowed Dragons star Ryan Powell, limiting the MLL point leader to four goals and three assists, a far cry from his record nine goals and three assists in Denver’s only other loss, 25-20 on June 10.
The defense also attacked the Dragons’ slick passing and cutting offense, causing turnovers by poke checking the ball out of the pocket of Dragons’ players.
“I thought our defense played great,” said Outlaws coach Jarred Testa.
His concern was a slow-starting offense, which trailed 6-2 after the first quarter.
The exception was rookie Brendan Munsdorf, who scored Denver’s first three goals and finished with six goals, a sock trick in Denver lacrosse lore that was recognized by fans who tossed their socks onto the field.
Munsdorf made several shots using his trademark move, braking suddenly and shooting over his shoulder with his back to the net.
“That’s talent and hard work; that’s not by accident,” said Testa.
Munsdorf, who recently finished his senior season at Maryland-Baltimore County, also showed the ability to catch and shoot on the run, taking a pass from Josh Sims and aiming for the far side against goaltender Alex Cade for a 14-12 lead early in the third quarter.
But the Dragons scored the last three goals of the quarter to tie it 15-15. The last two goals were scored only seven seconds apart as San Francisco won consecutive faceoffs.
A turnover in Denver’s defensive end allowed Booth to score his second 2-pointer for an 18-16 lead with 9:46 remaining. Denver’s Mike Law responded by sprinting through the crease, hiding his stick and unleashing a left-hander to cut the lead, but Booth drilled another 2-pointer for a 20-17 advantage.
