The Denver Outlaws’ bid to become the first expansion team to win a championship failed in the Major League Lacrosse title game Sunday, primarily because of the faceoff domination of Philadelphia’s Paul Cantabene.
Cantabene won a postseason record 27 faceoffs in the Barrage’s 23-12 victory.
With possession secured 75 percent of the time, the Barrage outshot the Outlaws 42-33 before 5,374 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
“Paul pulls the ball out where he wants to put it,” Denver coach Jarred Testa said. “We never had an answer for it, and that was a key part of the game.”
Denver’s Chris Cercy won only 3-of-19 faceoffs against the 36-year-old. Rookie Geoff Snider, a 2006 University of Denver graduate, also took on the powerful Cantabene at the X spot and won only 5-of-15. Casey Cittadino was 1-for-1, and Tom Garvey 0-for-1.
Philadelphia midfielders Roy Colsey and Matt Striebel cashed in with Colsey scoring a postseason record 10 points on six goals, including two two-pointers, and two assists for game MVP honors.
Striebel scored nine points on four goals, including a two-pointer, and four assists.
“We didn’t win faceoffs and we made some mistakes early on,” Testa said. “They are a veteran team and smashed it down our throats.”
Denver sorely missed all-MLL midfielder Jeff Sonke, who was sidelined by a hamstring injury suffered in the second quarter of Friday’s 23-14 semifinal victory over San Francisco.
After falling behind 2-0, Denver took its only lead on two goals by Mike Law, a Regis High and DU alum, and a goal by local schoolteacher Brian Langtry.
Philadelphia, the 2004 MLL champs, answered with four consecutive goals for a 7-4 lead that grew to 14-7 by halftime.
The Barrage ended all suspense with six straight goals to start the third quarter, a streak Denver’s all-rookie selection Brendan Mundorf ended with two goals.
A combination of frustration and taking chances led to 10 Denver penalties, including an illegal body check and slashes by Trevor Tierney that sent the goalkeeper to the penalty box three times.
“It got a little chippy, which I’m not proud of, but we kept trying, and that shows a lot of character,” Testa said.
Philadelphia 7 7 6 3 – 23
Denver 4 3 3 2 – 12
Philadelphia – Colsey 6 goals-2 assists-10 points, Horsey 1-0-1, Cantabene 1-0-1, Striebel 4-4-9, Springer 1-1-2, Prager 3-1-4, Prossner 1-1-2, Boyle 0-4-4, Smith 2-0-2, Zash 1-0-1. Totals 20-13-36.
Denver – Zywicki 1-0-1, Mundorf 3-1-4, Law 2-2-4, Cittadino 1-0-1, Langtry 2-2-4, Snider 1-0-1, Rewkoski 1-0-1, Brown 1-0-1, Erwin 0-1-1. Totals 12-6-18.
2-point goals – Colsey 2, Striebel.
Goalies – Philadelphia, Dougherty, 56 minutes, 50 seconds, 31 shots-19 saves; Keenan 3:10, 2-2. Denver, Tierney, 57:03, 38-20; Smith, 2:57, 4-2.
