Entries are listed in order on archive pages for your scrolling pleasure.
Vail Shootout Day 8 – 10:00 am
Today is my first wedding anniversary. I’m finally back in Vail after the Denver Outlaws home game against San Francisco last night. We won 10-9 in a pretty exciting game and got some good defense and goaltending to move to 6-2 and into sole possession of first place in the West. A few Outlaws are coming up to Vail to take part in the festivities, including assistant coach Trevor Tierney, who’s been playing middie for Reebok.
The fireworks at INVESCO were “hitched” as a fire caught up on top of the Thunder Vision scoreboard and delayed the proceedings for 10 or 15 minutes. It was a little weird and there were a few unhappy campers, unfortunately. Usually the fireworks are top-notch, so hopefully people don’t decide not to come back next year. We set an MLL record for crowd last night with something like 20,100 people in the stands.
Yesterday’s semifinals saw one major surprise in my opinion as the boys from AIG-LIVESTRONG defeated LaxGrip. LIVESTRONG are the former Jammin’ Salmon team, so they are no stranger to the top part of the bracket around here, but LaxGrip really looked good in Pool Play, so I figured they would be a shoo-in to make a repeat appearance in the semifinals at least.
Reebok, Team 21 and Merrill Lynch/Lacrossewear all moved on as well. Today’s match-ups will be Team 21 and AIG-LIVESTRONG at 11:00 and Reebok vs. Merrill Lynch/Lacrossewear at 1:00. Both should be very good games. I’m about to head down to Ford Field to take in most of the semifinals before getting down to Edwards for Rock-it Pocket’s 2:30 game against the Rocky Mountain Oysters.
More later.
Vail Shootout Day 8 – 12:45 pm - July 5th
Just back from a very quality semifinal game between AIG-LIVESTRONG and Team 21. AIG led for most of the first half, but Team 21 turned up the heat in the second to win 10-8. There was some good play all over the field, from attackmen throwing in one-handed wraparounds into the corner of the goal to goalies making gamebreaking stops on big outside shots. 10-8 is a great lacrosse score and AIG desperately tried to hit a 2-pointer as time was expiring, but they just couldn’t get a clean look at the goal.
It’s a beautiful day up here in Vail. Only partly cloudy and warm with a nice breeze. I actually got a little sun for the first time all tournament, much to the chagrin of those who were blinded by my pale, shirtless body. Sorry for those who had to see that, but it was important that I at least get some Vitamin D this summer. It’s not like I can actually catch a tan, but being as white as a piece of paper is not the goal either.
The next game should be a really good one with Merrill Lynch taking on Reebok. These teams were both in Pool A on Thursday and Reebok defeated ML 7-6 to avoid relegation into the Consolation Bracket. I expect that this will be a very hard-fought game. My early prediction is a win for Reebok in the 12-10 range.
Team 21’s win puts them in the finals tomorrow for the first time since they have been coming up here. They have perennially been in the semifinals, but never in the big dance. I was very impressed with AIG-LIVESTRONG, who put together a very strong squad and got back to their rightful place near the top of the Shootout.
I will unfortunately miss semifinal #2 and will attend Rock-it Pocket’s match-up in the Consolation bracket against the Rocky Mountain Oysters. The winner of this game will get to play at Ford Field tomorrow at 11:00 for the Consolation Championship, so this is an important game for both teams in terms of next year’s seedings. The other Consolation Semifinal is between Brine Elite and Team Valhalla.
Vail Shootout Day 8 – 5:00 pm
Well I wish I had been able to see Reebok’s double overtime victory over Merrill Lynch/Lacrossewear in the second semifinal, but I was attending a rather entertaining game between Rock-it Pocket and the Rocky Mountain Oysters in Edwards. Rock-it Pocket got up early and then led for most of the game before finally winning 8-7. There are a few Hopkins ringers on the squad and they are definitely helping out, including midfielder Dave Spaulding and goalie Mike Gvozden. It was a good win for “Pocket” and will put us/them in the Consolation Championship tomorrow at Ford Field.
Reebok’s win was a nail-biter, apparently. Max Ritz had 5 goals and 1 assists for ML while Adam Donegar scored the game-winner for Reebok to send them to the Men’s Elite Championship game for the fourth straight year. They will attempt to repeat as champions tomorrow at 1:00 pm. Rock-it Pocket gets to play the undercard in the Consolation Championship against Brine Elite at 11:00 am. Both should be great games.
More tonight, but I may be torn away from the Nerd Tank by my wife Tiana who somehow can’t put into perspective the importance of blogging vs. 1st wedding anniversaries.