Dragons drop Denver for second win

[Sonny]

Attackman Matt Alrich scored four goals, including a two-pointer, and added one assist as the San Francisco Dragons (2-3) won for the second time in the last three games with a 20-14 victory over the Denver Outlaws (2-3) in a Western Conference game at Kezar Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

With the win, the Dragons avenge a 21-14 loss against the Outlaws in the season opener on May 19. It also marks the first time in Denver’s brief history that the Outlaws have lost two straight games.

After the teams traded goals in the first two minutes of the game, the Outlaws took a 3-1 lead with back-to-back goals from attackmen Brendan Mundorf and Matt Brown. But, the Dragons countered with a pair of goals, including a two-point tally from Alrich, to take a one-point edge with 8:04 left in the first quarter.

Brown tied the game at 4-4 with 6:37 left in the stanza with a power-play tally before the teams traded goals to end the first quarter.

Midfielder Chris Rotelli gave San Francisco a one-point advantage with an unassisted goal at the 5:23 mark of the second quarter, but the Outlaws scored three straight goals over the final five minutes of the period to take an 8-6 advantage into the intermission.

Trailing by two to start the second half, the Dragons scored five straight goals in a five-minute span to take an 11-8 advantage as attackman Ryan Powell scored two goals with an assist during the spurt. Midfielder Brian Langtry ended the rally by converting an unassisted goal on a power-play opportunity, cutting Denver’s deficit to 11-9.

Midfielders Greg Gurenlian, who was acquired from Rochester earlier in the week, and Tim Booth scored back-to-back markers to extend the Dragons’ advantage to 13-9. The Outlaws scored two of the final three goals in the period to close within 14-11 heading into the fourth quarter.

Alrich and midfielder Tom Zummo scored to open the fourth quarter, giving the Dragons a 16-11 lead they did not relinquish. After midfielders Josh Sims and Jeff Sonke ran off consecutive goals to narrow the margin to 16-13, the Dragons scored four of the final five goals to end the game.

Alrich led the Dragons to the victory with his six-point effort and was named as the Bud Light MVP while Powell and Booth each scored two goals with an assist. Attackman Liam Banks added two goals and two assists.

Brown scored a game-high five goals to lead the Outlaws in a losing effort while Sims added three goals. Attackman Drew Westervelt tallied a game-high three assists while goalkeeper Reed Sothoron recorded 12 saves in his first start of the season.

Box Score 1 2 3 4 F
Denver Outlaws 5 3 3 3 14
San Francisco Dragons 5 1 8 6 20

One-Point Goals: DEN – Matt Brown 5, Josh Sims 3, Brendan Mundorf 1, Brian Langtry 1, Matt Hanna 1, Jeff Sonke 1, Tom Ethington 1, Hunter Lochte 1; SF – Matt Alrich 3, Chris Rotelli 3, Liam Banks 2, Tom Zummo 2, Ryan Powell 2, Tim Booth 2, Greg Gurenlian 2.

Two-Point Goals: SF – Matt Alrich 1.

Assists: DEN – Drew Westervelt 3, Mike Law 2, Brian Langtry 1, Benson Erwin 1; SF – Liam Banks 2, Matt Alrich 1, Jarett Park 1, Ryan Powell 1, Steve Holmes 1, Tim Booth 1.

Saves: DEN – Reed Sothoron 12 (60:00, 19 goals allowed); SF – Matt Vallone 17 (60:00, 14 goals allowed).

Attendance: 2,960.