Jack Bauer has nothing on Brendan Mundorf, whose 24 hours will earn a special place in professional lacrosse lore.
Mundorf scored two goals and made three assists for New York in a loss at Calgary in the National Lacrosse League championship game on Friday night, then traveled to Denver to suit up for the Outlaws in their Major League Lacrosse season opener at Invesco Field at Mile High.
Twenty-four hours after ending the indoor lacrosse season, Mundorf streaked up the field and fired a behind-the-head shot through the goalkeeper’s pads to cut Chicago’s lead to two with 3:34 remaining.
But it was the only goal of the fourth quarter and the last salvo for the Outlaws, who fell 13-11 for their first home- and season-opening loss since their origination in 2006.
“I felt like I should be here,” said Mundorf, who scored a team-high three goals. “I missed training camp. I felt like I could do it on a night’s rest. Unfortunately, we couldn’t pull out a ‘W.’ ”
Calling Mundorf a warrior, coach Brian Reese said he gave him the option of making his debut at Boston next week.
“He wanted to be here,” Reese said. “He played very hard and very well.”
Along with missing playmaker and clutch scorer Ryan Powell, who is sitting out the season, the Outlaws’ offense lacked flow and players at both ends were outhustled.
“We have the guys who can win it, but we didn’t play with enough passion and desire. That’s what it came down to,” Reese said. “We had some sloppy clears and lazy passes that go out of bounds. We just couldn’t get any flow on offense. We outshot ’em, but the shots we took weren’t great.”
In desperation, Reese alerted officials to an illegal stick midway through the fourth quarter.
“I hate to make that call, that was the only penalty we got all game,” he said. “It’s not something I’m proud of doing. I’ve never seen an MLL game where a team isn’t called for a penalty in three-plus quarters.”
Denver couldn’t score on the man-advantage penalty, however, partly because the officials called two penalties against the Outlaws.
Chicago 4 3 4 2 — 13
Denver 3 3 4 1 — 11
Chicago goals — K. Leveille 3, M. Leveille 2, Striebel 2, Brooks 2, Banks, Deane, Rotelli. Assists — Striebel 2, Kimener 2, Banks, Deane. 2-point goal — K. Leveille.
Denver goals — Mundorf 3, Langtry 2, Westervelt 2, Harrison 2, Watkins, Lindsay. Assists — Westervelt, Brown.
Goaltenders — Chicago, Gabel, 20 saves; Denver, Schwartzman, 9 saves.
