Dragons drop to Denver
June 14, 2008 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
San Francisco Dragons News Release
Denver, CO - The San Francisco Dragons lost their second road game to the Denver Outlaws at Mile High Stadium finishing with a score of 16-19. The Dragons (1-3) stay in third place in the Major League Lacrosse Western Conference as the Outlaws (4-1) remain in first.
Attackman Jake Byrne and rookie midfielder Matt Lalli led the Dragons with five points: Byrne with three goals, one 2-point goal and one assist, while Lalli scored five goals in his MLL debut. Midfielder Lewis Ratcliff was good for three goals and rookie Ryan Cranston added his first two goals of his MLL career as well as being credited for two assists. Greg Gurenlian had one goal, 7 groundballs and won 20 of 37 face-offs. Rookie midfielder Brendan Loftus added one goal to the Dragons score while defensemen Eric Martin and Steve Holmes each earned an assist as did rookie midfielder Mike Podgajny. Rookie defenseman Kyle Hartzell added in two assists. Goaltender Matt Vallone had 16 saves in the loss.
Denver was led by midfielder Brian Langtry with four goals and two assists to earn Bud Light MVP Player of the Game honors. The Outlaws' Matt Brown scored four goals with Brendan Mundorf adding three to the Outlaws win. Outlaw goaltender Jess Schwartzman had 13 saves to earn his fourth win of the season.
The Dragons were down 5-0 in the first ten minutes of the game before Jake Byrne sparked a Dragons unanswered 7 goal scoring streak. Lalli, playing in his first MLL game, scored two of the three goals he would record before half-time. Bryne added another goal with Ryan Cranston adding two goals and Brendan Loftus finding the net. Denver's Matt Brown then scored twice in a row (one during a power play) which the Dragons answered with a burst of two goals in succession: Lalli (his third) and an unassisted goal by face-off specialist, Gurenlian. By half-time, Denver found the goal once more followed by Dragons Lewis Ratcliff taking a Cranston feed to score with .03 seconds left in the first half. Dragons led 10-8 at half-time.
Denver came roaring back in the first 3 minutes of the second half to tie up the game at 11-11 as Outlaws Brian Langtry garnered a hat trick followed by Dragons Lalli scoring his 4th goal which was rapidly answered by Denver's Brown taking his 3rd and 4th goals off Dragons goalie, Matt Vallone. The rest of the third quarter had the Outlaws pulling ahead outscoring the Dragons 9-3. The final quarter found both teams losing their scoring steam with both splitting the four goals scored: Dragons Lalli netting his fifth and Byrne ended the game with a two pointer on a Cranston feed.
Tonight's matchup of the Dragons and Outlaws will be televised tomorrow evening (Sunday, June 15) on Comcast SportsNet West at 6:00 p.m. PST.
The San Francisco Dragons travel to play the New Jersey Pride on Saturday, June 21st at Rutgers University's Yurcak Field. The contest will be televised live on Comcast SportsNet West (Channel 400), Dish Network (Channel 409) and Direct TV (Channel 656).
Major League Lacrosse Stories from June 14, 2008
- Dragons drop to Denver - San Francisco Dragons
- Outlaws slay Dragons, 19-16 - Denver Outlaws
- Rattlers fall to Pride, drop second straight - Dallas Rattlers
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