HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - Attackman Max Seibald scored two goals to lead a balanced scoring attack as the Denver Outlaws (6-5) secured a berth into Sports Authority Major League Lacrosse Championship Weekend with a 14-11 victory over the Long Island Lizards (5-6) at James M. Shuart Stadium on Saturday night.
With the win, the Outlaws clinch a postseason berth for the sixth straight season. They have reached the play-offs in each of their six years. Meanwhile, the loss dropped the Lizards into fifth place in the MLL standings.
After attackman Tim Goettelmann gave the Lizards a 1-0 lead just over a minute into the first quarter, the Outlaws responded by scoring three straight goals to take a 3-1 advantage with 1:18 left in the period.
But, the Lizards answered with back-to-back goals from attackman Matt Danowski and midfielder Mike Unterstein to tie the game at 3-3 with 13:30 left in the first half.
The teams traded goals twice to end the first half, tying the game at 5-5.
Led by a two-point goal from attackman Drew Westervelt, the Outlaws opened the second half with a four-point run to take a 9-5 lead with 9:06 left in the third quarter. However, the Lizards cut the deficit to 9-7 as Danowski scored twice in a three-minute span.
Midfielder Peet Poillon scored just 59 seconds into the fourth quarter to give Denver a 10-7 advantage before rookie attackman Ryan Young scored a pair of goals in a 59-second span to close the gap to 10-9 with 10:01 remaining in regulation.
The Outlaws regained their three-point lead with back-to-back goals from Westervelt and attackman Terry Kimener with 5:04 left. The teams traded goals twice over the last five minutes as Denver held on for the victory, snapping a four-game losing streak.
While Seibald scored twice to earn Bud Light Player of the Game honors, Westervelt added a pair of goals, including a two-point marker. Kimener contributed a goal with two assists as Denver had 10 different players record a point, including nine different goal scorers.
Danowski led the Lizards with three goals in a losing effort while Goettelmann, Young and midfielder Stephen Berger each tallied a pair of goals.
The Outlaws outshot Long Island by a 41-32 margin and had a 37-32 advantage in ground balls.
Major League Lacrosse:
Denver Outlaws 14,
Long Island Lizards 11
Denver (6-5) 3-2-4-5 / 14 Long Island (5-6) 1-4-2-4 / 11
One-Point Goals: DEN - Brendan Mundorf 2, Max Seibald 2, Peet Poillon 2, Kevin Unterstein 1, Billy Bitter 1, Sean DeLaney 1, Terry Kimener 1, Dillon Roy 1, Drew Westervelt 1; LI - Matt Danowski 3, Tim Goettelmann 2, Stephen Berger 2, Ryan Young 2, John Grant, Jr. 1, Mike Unterstein 1. Two-Point Goals: DEN - Drew Westervelt 1; LI - n/a. Assists: DEN - Terry Kimener 2, Brendan Mundorf 1, Billy Bitter 1, Nate Watkins 1; LI - John Grant, Jr. 1, Parker McKee 1. Saves: DEN - Jesse Schwartzman 10 (60:00, 11 goals allowed); LI - Drew Adams 15 (60:00, 13 goals allowed). Shots: DEN - 41; LI - 32. Extra-Man Opportunities: DEN - 1 for 2; LI - 1 for 3. Attendance: 3,082.
With the win, the Outlaws clinch a postseason berth for the sixth straight season. They have reached the play-offs in each of their six years. Meanwhile, the loss dropped the Lizards into fifth place in the MLL standings.
After attackman Tim Goettelmann gave the Lizards a 1-0 lead just over a minute into the first quarter, the Outlaws responded by scoring three straight goals to take a 3-1 advantage with 1:18 left in the period.
But, the Lizards answered with back-to-back goals from attackman Matt Danowski and midfielder Mike Unterstein to tie the game at 3-3 with 13:30 left in the first half.
The teams traded goals twice to end the first half, tying the game at 5-5.
Led by a two-point goal from attackman Drew Westervelt, the Outlaws opened the second half with a four-point run to take a 9-5 lead with 9:06 left in the third quarter. However, the Lizards cut the deficit to 9-7 as Danowski scored twice in a three-minute span.
Midfielder Peet Poillon scored just 59 seconds into the fourth quarter to give Denver a 10-7 advantage before rookie attackman Ryan Young scored a pair of goals in a 59-second span to close the gap to 10-9 with 10:01 remaining in regulation.
The Outlaws regained their three-point lead with back-to-back goals from Westervelt and attackman Terry Kimener with 5:04 left. The teams traded goals twice over the last five minutes as Denver held on for the victory, snapping a four-game losing streak.
While Seibald scored twice to earn Bud Light Player of the Game honors, Westervelt added a pair of goals, including a two-point marker. Kimener contributed a goal with two assists as Denver had 10 different players record a point, including nine different goal scorers.
Danowski led the Lizards with three goals in a losing effort while Goettelmann, Young and midfielder Stephen Berger each tallied a pair of goals.
The Outlaws outshot Long Island by a 41-32 margin and had a 37-32 advantage in ground balls.
Major League Lacrosse:
Denver Outlaws 14,
Long Island Lizards 11
Denver (6-5) 3-2-4-5 / 14 Long Island (5-6) 1-4-2-4 / 11
One-Point Goals: DEN - Brendan Mundorf 2, Max Seibald 2, Peet Poillon 2, Kevin Unterstein 1, Billy Bitter 1, Sean DeLaney 1, Terry Kimener 1, Dillon Roy 1, Drew Westervelt 1; LI - Matt Danowski 3, Tim Goettelmann 2, Stephen Berger 2, Ryan Young 2, John Grant, Jr. 1, Mike Unterstein 1. Two-Point Goals: DEN - Drew Westervelt 1; LI - n/a. Assists: DEN - Terry Kimener 2, Brendan Mundorf 1, Billy Bitter 1, Nate Watkins 1; LI - John Grant, Jr. 1, Parker McKee 1. Saves: DEN - Jesse Schwartzman 10 (60:00, 11 goals allowed); LI - Drew Adams 15 (60:00, 13 goals allowed). Shots: DEN - 41; LI - 32. Extra-Man Opportunities: DEN - 1 for 2; LI - 1 for 3. Attendance: 3,082.
