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(Photo Courtesy PLL)
The Denver Outlaws Philadelphia Waterdogs made serious statements with their wins at Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
The Outlaws’ statement was one of character, one saying we’re not done yet.
The Waterdogs’ statement was clear, full of intent and urgency, saying we’re the title favorite.
During Philly’s win against Carolina, ESPN’s Quint Kessenich asked coach Bill Tierney how he combats any complacency. Tierney responded that the team with more incentive always wins.
Thankfully for Tierney and Waterdogs fans, that was only half true on Saturday.
Outlaws Outrun Whips with Terefenko in Transition...Just in Time
The Whipsnakes wanted to use the majority of the shot clock reading 48 seconds left, three less than that on the game clock.
But when Richie Connell hesitated and took a shot that got blocked at the top of the key, LSM Jake Piseno goosed it to himself and sped past the midline. Zach Geddes charged forward, hit the point man, Graham Bundy Jr., whose one-more to Logan Wisnauskas handcuffed him into a low catch with his off hand. Wisnauskas handled and quickly made the right read to Ryan Terefenko on the doorstep to set up a shot that rang off the nearside pipe, hit the underside of the pipe inside the goal where the broadcast’s goal cam was and ricocheted out. Brennan O’Neill, who did a lot of the work in leading Denver to come back to get to that point, immediately told Tim Soudan to challenge.
Except he didn’t need to as the officials went to review themselves as it was under two minutes left. The replays showed it was a clear and obvious crossing of the goal line, a fitting end to arguably the new best game of the season as the former Ohio State All-American won it with 4.4 seconds left.
“Your guess is as good as mine at the end,” Terefenko told Kessenich when asked where he thought the game-winning shot went. “I thought it hit nearside and went farside inside. Just got a lucky bounce.”
The Whipsnakes led as much as 10-4 in the first half thanks to a fast start from Joey Spallina (2G, 1T, 2A) and Co., but as the second team in Week 11 to opt to play without a face-off specialist left the door open in conceding possession after possession to a Denver offense with their backs firmly against the wall.
“I think that’s a really good team and applaud our guys getting all the way to the end and getting the victory. I think it’s a big relief for a lot of us,” Soudan said. “I think we played the first quarter and a half like we did last weekend and then we kind of played our style of play.”
O’Neill (3G, 1T, 1A) carried the laid with Pat Kavanagh (right thigh strain) and Jared Bernhardt (left hamstring strain) out, Dalton Young delivered in his first look as a starting attackman with an efficient 5 goals on 7 shots.
“After last week we knew this character game. We could have easily let ourselves be sorry for ourselves or we could look at it and use it as a chance to look ourselves as a mirror and really fix what we gotta fix,” said O’Neill. “I think we really did that. I think we came in with a good attitude this week and I think top to bottom we played our hearts out.”
The story of the comeback came on the other end of the field.
After Logan McNaney allowed 10 scores at 18% (after going 20% in the first half last week and also getting pulled and was 35% the game prior, too), backup Owen McElroy was immense in the second half, blanking the Whips in the third quarter with four saves.
“It was great to see BO step up, Dalton step up and then in the second half having O-Mac step up was huge for us. … Overall happy and this gives us a foundation to work forward from,” Denver coach Tim Soudan said.
Soudan said postgame McNaney is dealing with some medical things and tried to give it a go, and was proud of McElroy for staying ready.
“With Logan, we felt like Owen gave us a little bit better of a shot today,” said Terefenko. “Decided to put Owen back in and he played amazing. To come into a hole the last two games and just produces, it’s awesome. Our defense rallied behind him and our offense just moved the ball. We’ve been talking about that all year. We have some of the best players in the world when these guys share the rock and they did a really great job of that today.”
It was truly complimentary lacrosse to supply a comeback win. McElroy, Terefenko and better off-ball defense allowed O’Neill and young to take over offensively.
Consecutive Young strikes at the end of the first half gave Denver’s offense some juice. O’Neill scored a 2-pointer to make it a one-possession game, Young gets his fourth on a quick stick right after to get within one.
O’Neill swept middle and then went to the question mark for the lead, and Young scored six seconds later to make it 12-10.
Aidan Carroll (3G, 1A) lefty face dodge and Adam Poitras’ (3G, 1A) riser tied it back up, then a defensive stop led to rookie Billy Dwan III scoring his first pro goal in transition to retake teh lead with under three minutes left.
Geddes nearly tied it back up when he filled the lane after his own caused turnover, but a Soudan timeout nullified it. Evan Plunkett got his shot blocked, caught it and fired top left to tie it 13-13 with 1:13 left.
One of the sequences of the season saw Terefenko find the winner on a campus special to him, avoiding a costly third defeat in a row.
“That’s the most important thing is us getting this team back on track. Being able to play here is obviously awesome and really special for me. Just great to get back in the win column,” Terefenko said.
For an Outlaws group that looked to be losing their grasp of the title race due to all their mounting injuries, their 6-5 record now has them not only with a 94% chance of making the playoffs, but also an indication to the rest of the West they’re still the team to beat.
“You gotta play your best lacrosse at the end. That’s the only thing that matters. That’s what we’re going to try to do,” Terefenko said. “We’re going to keep getting better every week and you want to play your best lacrosse come September and we’re on the right path.”
‘Dogs Defense & Sowers Shine, Kirst Matches Record
The Waterdogs’ 13-6 win vs. Chaos felt like a lot more thanks to the offensive dazzling between Michael Sowers and Philly’s midfield while their best defensive output of the season solidified their status as title favorites.
Philadelphia earned a playoff berth to improve to 7-3 atop the overall and Eastern Conference standings as CJ Kirst matched Marcus Holman’s single-season goals record (30) on his worst shooting performance of the season (1-of-9).
“For a team with so many offensive superstars, it’s nice to have a good defensive win as well,” Tierney said postgame.
Sowers was sensational (particularly with his lefty finishing) with his hat trick and five points, at one point breaking his matchup’s ankles at X and feed across the crease to Hannah on the backside for a nearside finish to go up 8-1, a lead they took into halftime.
Instead of Kirst getting all the scoring fun, Matt Collison converted another 2 (his fourth of the year), Hannah had 2G, 1A before exiting with a left foot injury and Kieran McArdle chipped in with 1G, 1A.
“We talked about the Blaze effect and tried to get that out of our mind,” said Tierney unprompted the day after Riorden made 17 saves to lead the win vs. California. “If you had a great shot, take it and don’t worry it’s against one of the best goalies to ever play the game.”
Tierney praised his players’ mindsets going into the game and called the night-before practice their “best ever” ahead of their third consecutive win. Goalie Sean Byrne again impressed with 11 saves and the Kenny Brower and Gavin Adler-led defense made Carolina’s dodgers look pedestrian.
Philly heads into a bye sitting pretty with battles against the Whips and Atlas on the horizon in the regular-season finales at home. Carolina (5-6) is excited to put this game behind them as they’ll hope to get back to .500 in Boston for their finale against Utah.
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