The Denver Outlaws held the Maryland Whipsnakes to seven goals — both a season low in goals and shooting percentage — in a 13-7 win Saturday at Torero Stadium in San Diego, using a dominant second-half surge to pull away after a tight first half.
The game was knotted 6-6 early in the third quarter before Brennan O'Neill's first goal sparked a five-goal Outlaws run that gave Denver an 11-6 lead entering the fourth. Denver's four former Tewaaraton Award winners — O'Neill, Pat Kavanagh, Jared Bernhardt and Logan Wisnauskas — combined for 10 of the Outlaws' 13 goals, with Kavanagh leading the way with four. Maryland was held to one goal in the final 21 minutes as Denver's defense physically disrupted the Whipsnakes' attack throughout the second half. "I challenged them to be more physical, and they took me seriously," Outlaws coach Tim Soudan said. "You have to play a physical brand of lacrosse. I think it had Maryland thinking twice about being in certain situations."
Joey Spallina's four points were the lone bright spot for the Whipsnakes, who shot 17.1 percent on the afternoon. Maryland was already shorthanded at faceoff, playing without Joe Nardella and Matthew Paolatto, and the Outlaws took full advantage of the possession battle in the second half. Rob Pannell and the Whipsnakes' attack trio never found their footing in settled situations as the game progressed.
The loss dropped Maryland to 3-3 on the season. The Whipsnakes return to action as part of PLL Week 7 action continuing.