The Western Conference lead is at stake Saturday when the Denver Outlaws (4-3) take on the Los Angeles Riptide (5-2) in a Major League Lacrosse matchup at Carson, Calif.
“This is our biggest game of the year,” coach/general manager Brian Reese said.
All-star midfielder Josh Sims plans to be on the field after resting his sore hamstring during Sunday’s All-Star Game, but the status of all-star goaltender Trevor Tierney won’t be known until the 6 p.m. game time.
Tierney, out with a concussion, has not played since June 16. He has been cleared by team doctors, but the true test will come when he takes shots in tonight’s practice and Saturday’s warm-ups.
Even if Tierney can play, he might back up rookie Jesse Schwartzman, who has posted an 11.01 goals-against average in two victories.
“We don’t want to put Trevor in a position to set him up for failure,” Reese said. “Jesse has played well and won a couple games, so Trevor could back up or start.”
Schwartzman, the 2005 and 2007 MVP in NCAA championship games for Johns Hopkins, is building a reputation for communicating with his teammates.
“He’s awesome. He talks a lot,” veteran midfielder Brian Langtry said. “He’s excited to be here.”
Reese said: “It is not just the saves, it is the way he directs the defense. Usually, new players are quiet and try to fit in, but he took command.”
Denver defeated L.A. 18-15 on June 9 at Invesco Field at Mile High.
Up next
The Outlaws return home to face defending MLL champion Philadelphia on July 21.
After playing another Eastern Conference foe, Long Island, in a road game July 28, the Outlaws host L.A. on Aug. 4 and end the regular season at San Francisco on Aug. 11.
All-Star Game recap
The West was at a disadvantage, drawing players from four teams as opposed to the East, which drew from six teams. To make matters worse, the West was missing Tierney, Sims and San Francisco’s injured leading scorer, Ryan Powell.
East goalie Brian Dougherty made several spectacular saves early in the game, and the East ran up a 7-1 lead on the way to a 19-12 victory.
Denver’s Brendan Mundorf, a first-time all-star, led the West with three goals. Teammate Geoff Snider scored two goals and made one assist. Langtry and fellow midfielder Benson Erwin scored one goal each. Langtry made two assists.
Langtry, a Parker resident and local schoolteacher, also won the “fastest shot” contest, with a blast that was measured at 104 mph.
Footnotes
Denver rookie Drew Westervelt leads the Outlaws with 11 assists and is tied for fifth in total points despite playing two fewer games while he finished his college season. In five games, the Maryland-Baltimore County graduate has 20 points, including nine goals. … Outlaws defender Trey Whitty, acquired in a trade last Wednesday, will not make his debut until July 21.
