From behind-the-back passes and shots to an array of creative halftime stick-skill artistry and a 111-mph shot, the best field lacrosse players put on a show Thursday night in the Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game.
In an overtime battle, the MLL’s Old School, players who graduated from college from 2001-06, prevailed 22-21 over the Young Guns, players who graduated from 2007-09, before 10,123 at Invesco Field at Mile High.
An unlikely source, defenseman Brodie Merrill, scored the game-winning goal on a play that started with a save by Mike Gabel, an outlet to Kyle Sweeney, who burst up the field, drew a defender and dished to Merrill, whose shot flew past goalkeeper Brett Queener.
Merrill and Queener are usually on the same side, playing for Toronto.
“We got a lucky break,” Merrill said. “It was right spot, right time, so I’m excited.”
Denver Outlaws star Brian Langtry was the first to score on Queener, who played only the second half. Langtry set an all-star record with three goals from beyond the 16-yard, 2-point line. He was named the game’s MVP and earned a $1,500 check.
“That buys a lot of Barbies and little toys for my kids,” Langtry said of his preschoolers, Lucy and Gus. “I’m going to spoil them rotten.”
Queener, who held Old School scoreless for a 12-minute stretch in the third quarter, was the most dynamic player on the field.
Along with winning the freestyle competition — diving out of a moving cart to score in his first act and paying tribute to Michael Jackson and jumping into the stands for his final act — he stopped numerous point-blank shots with an array of diving moves.
He repeatedly started the offense by racing up the field with the ball.
“He’s a fun, energetic guy and players respond to that passion,” Merrill said.
Langtry took another view.
“I guess he’s good for the sport and he seems like a good guy, but I’m really annoyed playing against him,” Langtry said. “When you see a goalie run up the field, all you want to do is whack him.”
If the Young Guns had won, Paul Rabil (three goals, one assist) would likely have taken home the MVP check to go with his fastest-shot prize money.
The Outlaws’ Max Seibald, whose shot was clocked at 110 mph, split the defense and scored on a bouncer for one of his two goals for the Young Guns.
Young Guns 5 5 8 3 0 — 21
Old School 5 9 3 4 1 — 22
YG goals — Thomson 4, Rabil 3, Danowski 3, Huntley 2, Seibald 2, Nims, Bocklet, Schwartzman, Pages, Westervelt, Hall. 2-point goal — Rabil. Assists — Nims 3, Huntley 2, Downing, Bocklet, Westervelt, Thomson, Danowski, Levine, Seibald, Rabil.
OS goals — Langtry 3, Mundorf 3, Walters 2, Leveille 2, Kelly 2, Dixon, Berger, Boyle, Brown, Merrill; 2-point goals — Langtry 3, Dixon, Kelly. Assists — Ford 2, Mundorf, Berger, Merrill, Leveille, Kelly, Striebel, Langtry. Goalie saves — YG — Schwartzman 9, Queener 11; OS — Levin 7, Gabel 9.
