Outlaws Wrangle Riptide, Playoffs Next

Jeff Zywicki scored three consecutive goals in the final quarter to propel the Outlaws (10-2) to a 13-9 victory over the Los Angeles Riptide (6-6) Saturday night at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Zywicki’s performance earned the newest Outlaw MVP honors as his four-goal game (4-0--4) helped Denver to complete its inaugural regular season with a league-tying best 10-2 record.

Denver held a slim lead heading into the final stanza. Sean Lindsay’s two-point shot just over two minutes into the final quarter tied the game at 9-9 as the Riptide looked to ride the hometown support. However Zywicki netted the next three goals followed by Josh Sims’ (1-1--2) lone score of the night as Denver closed out the game – extending its season-high winning streak to six games. The Outlaws also completed the 2006 schedule with an undefeated road record (6-0).

Matt Rewkowski’s goal and three assists (1-3--4) tied him with Zywicki for the team lead in points with four, while Hunter Lochte added a pair of scores and an assist (2-1--3). Trevor Tierney was tough in the pipes as he stopped 20-of-28 shots-on-goal.

Michael Watson led Los Angeles with a duo of goals and assists, while Anthony Kelly won 20-of-25 face-offs. The loss eliminated the Riptide from playoff contention.

The Outlaws return to the L.A.-area on Aug. 25 for the New Balance Championship Weekend. Denver’s win, coupled with San Francisco’s 16-15 nail-bitter over Chicago, clinches the final playoff spot for the Dragons. The Philadelphia Barrage and Boston Cannons complete the four-team title tournament.

Outlaws Corral Western Conference Crown

The Outlaws (9-2) clinched the Western Conference championship with a 17-13 victory over the Machine (0-11) Saturday afternoon in front of a crowd of 2,054 in suburban Chicago. Matt Brown (5-0—5) and Jeff Sonke (3-1—5) had five points apiece to pace Denver, which guaranteed itself of finishing its inaugural season with a better record than fellow Major League Lacrosse expansion teams San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago.

The Machine were on the cusp of winning their first game of the season and franchise history when Dan Flannery’s goal 5:16 into the final quarter tied the score at 12-12. However, Jeff Sonke’s two-point shot from behind the arc less than two minutes later put the Outlaws up for good.

Denver – sensing the opportunity to take the inaugural Western Conference title and clinch at least the second seed in the Major League Lacrosse Championship Weekend – went for the close as Brown and Josh Sims each followed Sonke with a goal to place the game on ice.

Rookie Brendan Mundorf continued his stellar play for the Outlaws with three goals and an assist for four points, while Mike Law and Matt Rewkowski each had a pair of scores. Kevin Leveille moved the Machine with a trio of goals and an assist for four points.

Denver sweeps the three-game season series with Chicago, having won the previous two matches at INVESCO Field at Mile High.

The Outlaws end the regular season next Saturday in Los Angeles as they face the Riptide. Denver will return to the Los Angeles area on Aug. 25 as the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. will host the 2006 Major League Lacrosse Championship Weekend.

The semi-final games will be held at 5:30 PM PT and 8:00 PM PT on Friday, August 25. The two semi-final winners will advance to the New Balance Championship Game on Sunday, August 27. The Championship Game will air live on ESPN2.

The Boston Cannons and Philadelphia Barrage have clinched two of the remaining three spots.