Week 5 PLL action in San Diego opened with a rematch between the Denver Outlaws and the California Redwoods. California took a somewhat surprising 15-12 win against Denver in Week 1. However, since losing again in Week 2, the Outlaws have been on a tear, with their vaunted offense featuring four Tewaaraton Award winners finally coming to life. They were on display yet again Friday night, combining for 18 points in an 18-12 win, Denver’s third straight. The Outlaws improve to 3-2, taking over first place in the Western Conference. The Redwoods fell to 2-2 and 0-1 on their Homecoming weekend.
Outlaws offense explodes in first quarter
Pat Kavanagh started the scoring for Denver (1:32). But his brother Chris Kavanagh (2:11) fired a 2-point goal to put Redwoods in front 2-1. Successive goals from Ryan Terefenko (4:06), Graham Bundy Jr (5:45; 2-point goal), and Pat Kavanagh (6:51) gave the Outlaws a 5-2 lead. Sam English broke the run for Redwoods at 8:29, but Logan Wisnauskas scored at 10:01 to put Denver up 6-3 after one quarter.
Kavanagh’s hat trick goal (2:16 second quarter) extended the lead to four. Goals from Andrew McAdorey (3:17) and Ryder Garnsey (5:12) cut the lead to two. Brennan O’Neill (7:19) and Dylan Molloy (10:44) then exchanged goals for Denver and California respectively, and the Outlaws led 8-6 at halftime.
Big fourth quarter lifts Outlaws to third straight win
McAdorey netted his second goal of the game (1:43) to pull Redwoods within one, 8-7. The Outlaws pushed the lead back to three with goals from Jared Bernhardt (2:50) and Kavanagh (3:08; fourth goal of the game). Former Denver attackman Sam Handley (6:41) and English (9:19) again narrowed the lead to one. Justin Anderson (10:41) made it 11-9, but Molloy’s second goal at 11:02 kept it a one-goal affair into the fourth quarter.
Unfortunately, the California offense stumbled in the fourth quarter, managing only a 2-point goal from McAdorey (5:40). Meanwhile, Denver poured it on, scoring seven times in the final 12 minutes. Goal scorers included Luke Wierman (0:05), Kavanagh (0:40), Bernhardt (1:17), Wisnauskas (4:47), O’Neill (8:02), Anderson (10:14), and Terefenko (11:27).
Other Stats of Note
Ground Balls: Redwoods 42; Outlaws 38
Caused Turnovers: Redwoods 13; Outlaws 7
Luke Wierman (Denver): 18-31 Faceoffs; 11 Ground Balls
Logan McNaney (Denver): 15 saves (60%); 3-0 as a starter
