Trevor Tierney’s view of the highest-scoring game in Major League Lacrosse history Saturday proved quite different from the view afforded by the ESPN minicam attached to his helmet.
Unbeknownst to the Denver Outlaws goalkeeper, he was playing with a concussion throughout a 27-26 overtime loss to Rochester after a warm-up shot hit Tierney in the head.
“I felt like I got my bell rung,” Tierney said. “I think it caught the camera and pushed the helmet into my head, so it didn’t absorb the blow very much. I had a bruise on my forehead.”
Tierney was convinced he could play.
“When I get in a game situation, I’m so focused,” he said. “In any other scenario, I would have realized I was hurt.
“But I just had the adrenaline going. I didn’t notice until the game wore down that things weren’t right.”
While explaining afterward to team doctor Ted Sweeney that he wasn’t able to maintain his usual focus, the concussion was diagnosed.
“The doctor said: ‘Yeah, you’re not even passing some of my tests right now. So not to be able to focus in a lacrosse game doesn’t surprise me,”‘ Tierney said.
“But I don’t want to make it sound like an excuse, because myself and the rest of the team, we can play better defense.”
After a spell of vomiting, Tierney didn’t feel well until Monday night. He was re-examined Tuesday and allowed to train for Saturday’s game at San Francisco.
“I’ve had my fair share of concussions, so I have to be careful about it,” Tierney said. “But I’m feeling good right now, so I don’t think it’ll be a factor this weekend.”
Denver (2-2) is intent on reducing turnovers and shoring up its defense against San Francisco (1-3).
“Our players have to realize how our offense is a big part of our defense,” general manager Brian Reese said. “The offense has to kind of know when guys are tired, and maybe work the shot clock a little bit. We need to value possessions a little bit more. We’ve got to play together more. We can’t just be offense and defense.”
Individual effort
In less than two seasons, Outlaw fans have witnessed two of the greatest goal-scoring performances in league history.
Last season, San Francisco’s Ryan Powell scored nine goals at Invesco Field at Mile High, tying an MLL single-game record shared by Tim Goettelmann, Kevin Leveille and Mark Millon. Saturday, Rochester’s John Grant Jr. scored eight goals, joining Millon and Powell in the eight-goal category.
Tierney pointed out Grant is more amazing in the National Lacrosse League.
“He does those things in indoor lacrosse, where the goal is tiny and the goalie is completely padded up,” Tierney said.
All-stars named today
Rosters will be announced today for the July 8 all-star contest at Harvard University.
MLL general managers, coaches and players vote for players by position in each conference. No one is allowed to vote for anyone on his team.
“I think we have a pretty good shot to get six to eight players,” Reese said. “My best guess is Josh Sims and Jeff Sonke, Mike Law or Brian Langtry. Geoff Snider, Benson Erwin, Lee Zink, Trevor Tierney, Brendan Mundorf and Matt Brown all have pretty good shots.”
Footnote
Snider tied for third in the MLL record book for faceoffs won in a single game with 28. His opponent, rookie Alex Smith, won 25 faceoffs. Smith, who also scooped up 12 ground balls, won MLL rookie of the week honors.
