Chad Palumbo had a hat trick, including the game-winning goal, in Carolina’s 12-11 win over the Denver Outlaws on Saturday. Palumbo now has two game-winning goals in his first three professional games. The Chaos now sit at 3-2 after a split in their Homecoming Weekend games; they have two weeks off before returning to play Sunday 6/28 against the California Redwoods. The Outlaws drop to 2-2 with the loss; they also have Week 5 off before returning in Week 6 against the Maryland Whipsnakes (Saturday 6/27).
Outlaws run, but Chaos run faster in first half
The Outlaws got on the board first as Evan Plunkett scored his first career goal (1:19). Palumbo quickly responded for Carolina (2:24), but Denver would own the rest of the quarter. Pat Kavanagh (3:25) put the Outlaws up 3-2, then Brennan O’Neill fired in a 2-point goal (9:12). Jake Piseno finished in transition (10:32), and the Outlaws led 5-1 after the first quarter.
The second quarter was all Chaos as the Outlaws were shut out 6-0. Ross Scott (1:22), Shane Knobloch (4:21), Jackson Eicher (5:46), and Christian Scarpello (6:25) tied the game at 5-5. Brendan Nichtern gave Carolina their first lead at 7:00, then Knobloch scored his second (9:18) for 7-5 lead going into halftime.
Palumbo nets 2nd game-winner in 3 games, Chaos splits the weekend
Eric Spanos opened the second half with a snipe (1:39) that extended Carolina’s lead to 8-5. The Outlaws would answer with a three-goal run, starting with Kavanagh’s second goal (4:15). Graham Bundy Jr. (5:54) and Logan Wisnauskas (7:44 power play) then tied the game at 8-8. Another goal from Palumbo (8:39) briefly restored a 9-8 lead for Chaos, but goals from Zach Geddes (8:54) and Wisnauskas (11:44) put the Outlaws up 10-9. But Scott Smith scored 10 seconds later for Chaos to tie the game at 10 going into the final quarter. Bundy Jr. scored 33 seconds into the fourth quarter to put Denver up once more, 11-10. But Chaos would get the game-tying goal from Owen Hiltz (2:58) and the game-winner from Palumbo (4:01). Goaltender Blaze Riorden would shut the door on Denver the rest of the way as Chaos finished their Homecoming Weekend with a split.
Other Stats Of Note
Outlaws: Wisnauskas (2g); Kavanagh (2g); Bundy (2g); O’Neill (1 2-pt g, 2a); Piseno (1g, 2a); Plunkett (1g); Geddes (1g); Dalton Young (1a)
Chaos: Palumbo (3g); Knobloch (2g); Nichtern (1g, 2a); Smith (1g, 1a); Hiltz (1g); Eicher (1g); Scott (1g); Spanos (1g); Scarpello (1g); Teddy Malone (1a)
Luke Wierman (Outlaws): 16-24 Faceoffs, 8 Ground Balls (led all players)
Logan McNaney (Outlaws): 13 saves; Blaze Riorden (Chaos): 14 saves
