Denver Outlaws fight to save their season
With their final four games packed into a brutal 15-day stretch, the Denver Outlaws will have one last chance to turn things around in their chase for a spot in the Major League Lacrosse playoffs.
It hasn’t been a great season for the Denver Outlaws, but there’s still hope.
After winning their opener at home against Ohio, the Outlaws went on the road and dropped 3 straight games in May. In fact, the team has yet to win a single away game this year and they currently sit 7th in the overall MLL rankings. Only the top 4 teams advance.
Now on a 2-game winning streak, in order to have a prayer of making it to the playoffs, the Outlaws will need to win at least 3 — and perhaps all 4 — of their remaining games.
The campaign begins at Mile High on Saturday night, as Denver plays host to the 8th ranked Atlanta Blaze. This is probably the easiest game on the schedule and an absolute must-win.
The most daunting part of the remaining season is that the Outlaws will have to face the Charlotte Hounds, currently ranked first in the league, twice this month. Once at home and once in Charlotte.
Here is what’s left of the season…
- Saturday, July 16 at 7:30pm
Denver Outlaws vs. Atlanta Blaze - Saturday, July 23 at 5:30pm
Denver Outlaws @ Charlotte Hounds - Thursday, July 28 at 5:30pm
Denver Outlaws @ Rochester Rattlers - Saturday, July 30 at 3:00pm
Denver Outlaws vs. Charlotte Hounds
From Domination to Elimination
In 2013, the Outlaws constructed a perfect 14-0 regular season performance, but fell in their first playoff match against the Charlotte Hounds.
After that spectacular undefeated season, Denver battled their way to a 9-5 finish and another spot in the playoffs, which they made good use of. Defeating the New York Lizards and Rochhester Rattlers, the 2014 Outlaws captured the franchise’s first-ever Steinfeld Cup.
Last year, the Outlaws set a league attendance record with their annual fireworks game on July 4, 2015, but the team was squeezed out of the post-season by a hair.
Painfully, Denver finished the season in 5th place, just one game out of the money.
It was the first time, in a decade of existence, that the Outlaws fell short of making the MLL playoffs.
Will 2016 be the second time? The clock is ticking, and we’ll know a lot more after Saturday night’s game against Atlanta.
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