Harrison, Sims Spark Outlaws to MLL Final
by Matt DaSilva | Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff | Game Blog
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Denver midfielder Jeff Sonke chases a loose ball Saturday during the Outlaws' 11-10 win over the Boston Cannons in the MLL semifinals at Navy Marine-Corps Memorial Stadium. After struggling early, the first midfield accounted for all six of Denver's second-half goals. © John Strohsacker/LaxPhotos.com |
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- If Kyle Harrison had any
lingering doubts about the torn hamstring he spent most of this
season repairing, they disappeared with 5:47 remaining in the
Denver Outlaws' Major League Lacrosse semifinal victory Saturday
over the Boston Cannons.
Harrison broke down Matt Casey and stuffed his patented,
right-handed jump shot in the top right corner for the eventual
game-winning goal, as Denver clinched its third MLL championship
game berth in four years with an 11-10 victory at Navy-Marine Corps
Memorial Stadium
The Outlaws, the top-seeded team in these MLL playoffs, will face
either Toronto or Long Island (3 p.m. semifinal) for the Steinfeld
Cup at 1 p.m. Sunday. Harrison and Josh Sims, the Bud Light Game
MVP, accounted for Denver's final five goals, including three
straight from Sims that turned a 9-7 deficit into a 10-9 lead in
the fourth quarter.
"We're so used to trying to draw and pass it off that we almost
forgot that you're supposed to try to score first," Harrison said.
"In the locker room, we were like, ‘Dude, we're not shooting
the ball. Let's get back to running by people and shooting.' And
that's going to free up our attack. Our middies started opening
things up top."
Did they ever.
Boston stifled Denver until the Outlaws midfielders awoke midway
through the third quarter. Until that point, Denver remained within
striking distance thanks to Brendan Mundorf (three goals) and
goalkeeper Jesse Schwartzman (18 saves).
Still, Schwartzman grew visibly frustrated with his defense when
Cannons attackman Matt Alrich (4g) stuck a cross-crease feed from
Sean Morris (four assists) to put Boston up 8-5 with 6:30 remaining
in the third quarter.
"I get a little pissed off when we don't think right, slide to
people we don't need to slide to and create offense for them,"
Schwartzman said. "Sometimes I just show it to get the guys fired
up."
It worked. Jeff Sonke and Harrison scored in the next two minutes
to pull the Outlaws back within one at 8-7. Harrison split right to
left to beat Kevin Cassese and sent a scorcher past Turner, a
foreboding of sorts as he crowed to the crowd.
Harrison injured his hamstring in the third game of the season. He
returned, but played sparingly, in Denver's season-ending loss at
Toronto.
"I'm finally normal," he said afterward, "after two and half
months of being the weak link."
Alrich did connect again on a similar feed from Morris to give
Boston a 9-7 lead going into the fourth quarter, but the momentum
had shifted. Denver had found the chinks in Boston goalie Kip
Turner's (23 saves) armor - screens and rebounds.
Sims struck first on a putback of a Sonke shot off Turner's knee
with 13:03 remaining, then tied the game less than six minutes
later when he used Greg Downing's hip as a screen to send a
scorcher past Turner to tie the game.
Thirty-nine seconds later, Brian Langtry found Sims yet again on
the crease for the go-ahead goal. The Outlaws' 10-9 lead was their
first in the game. Harrison's second goal with 5:47 left made it a
two-goal advantage.
The Cannons would not go quietly. Morris and Alrich connected once
more with 1:09 remaining to close within 11-10. Chris Eck won the
ensuing faceoff and pushed for the fast break, but Ryan Boyle could
not handle his feed and the ball sailed out of bounds.
Denver maintained possession for the balance of the game.
All seven of Boston's losses this season came by one goal, with
Saturday's loss being emblematic of a frustrating campaign of
late-game letdowns.
"We literally could be 13-0 right now," said midfielder Justin
Smith. "That's not a lie."
