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Mile High Stars Parker Rangers RBLL Colorado 2017 IBLA
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Parker Unscathed in RBLL Colorado Double-Header – IBLA Week 8

Author’s Note: Through the 2017 season, we’ve partnered with the Interstate Box Lacrosse Association (IBLA) to give you an inside look at what’s going on in all three Regional Box Lacrosse Leagues (RBLL). RBLL Colorado is still in full-swing, let’s focus in on the Rockies as we await the Nationals!

Two weekends are left in the RBLL Colorado, with the Parker Rangers and Colorado Springs Wolves completing their regular seasons on the near horizon. Only one team has completely locked up their shot at the Colorado postseason, with no wiggle room left for the other three. It’s time to put up, or shut up. It looks like Parker got the message before last weekend…

Colorado

Sr. A: Rangers 10, Stars 8 – 9/30

Reminiscent of the rivalry started in year one, the Mile High Stars and Parker Rangers came to battle last weekend. The crowd was brought into the game through a back and forth shootout that truly gave them their money’s worth. There were more than a few times that it looked like the Stars could serve the Rangers their first loss of the season. The two clubs were tied after the first period and the Rangers only led by a point after the second.

Ramping up the tempo, fans were treated to an aggressive showing from both benches throughout the contest. 30 minutes were shared between the two clubs, 8 penalties for Mile High and 7 for Parker.

Mile High Stars Parker Rangers RBLL Colorado 2017 IBLABetween the pipes, net-minder Brandon Scharaga (.756) fought off 31 of the 41 balls Parker flung at the net. Unfortunately, Brendan Anger (2+4) and Rob Milnes (4+2) couldn’t carry the entire load for Mile High offensively, the only two shooters with multi-goal, multi-point nights.

The Parker offense was attacking early and often, riding a mid-game three goal run to keep ahead of the Stars. Milnes punched in back-to-back strikes in the first period and it would be the last time Rangers back-stopper Monte Montgomery (.758) would let in consecutive goals.

Luke Miller (3+0) led the way for Parker, picking up a hat trick in the latter periods, but seven other Rangers found a way to put the ball in the back of the net. This is scary thing for the rest of the RBLL to deal with when approaching playoff time. An already solid Parker unit is just now hitting mid-stride. They’re setting the tone on all sides of the floor and no one is shying away at getting the job done. It’s worth noting that over half of the dressed lineup tallied at least a point in the win.

Mile High Stars Parker Rangers RBLL Colorado 2017 IBLAAgain, the Rangers pulled out ahead, this time in one of the tightest RBLL Colorado games of the season. Falling to 2-2, Mile High still sit a game away from a playoff berth. Parker punched their ticket last week, but still had another change to assert their dominance over the weekend, hosting Denver the next day.

Sr. A: Rangers 14, Buzz 6 – 10/1

After what we’ve seen out of Parker, no one could have expected the game to flow as it did. To no surprise, the Rangers were handling the first period, with five different shooters connecting in contrast to a solo shot from the Buzz. Before the frame came to a close, Denver was able to sneak one last goal in to stay in it, down 2-5.

Seizing the opportunity, Brandon Corbo (2+1) tickled twine for Denver in the opening 5 minutes of the second period. Right on his heels, teammate Reice Hendricks (1+0) found his way past goaltender Chris Lyons (.800), bringing the contest to a, 5-5, tie.

Then the Parker Rangers completely flipped the script. The defense would make sure we would hear from another Buzz shooter for something like 26 minutes. In the meantime, Dan Finck (4+3) would lead his boys through a 9-1 run to close out their second win of the weekend, fifth of 2017. This was another huge night for team offense, 11 guys found a way to contribute to the points columns.

Lyons got the call in Sunday’s contest after starting Montgomery on Saturday and he really rose to the occasion through the second half. Koahl Thornton (.667) had his hands full in the opposite crease, seeing 42 accurate attempts from the Parker shooters.

The door was left open for the Wolves to sneak into the last playoff spot with the Buzz suffering another loss. Now that Parker has reached 5-0, they’re pulling away as the clear favorites to charge through the RBLL Colorado postseason. Denver will get yet another crack at Parker this coming weekend, bringing the Rangers’ season to a close.

Minnesota

Hastings Walleye won RBLL Minnesota in six games over Week 6. Along with Portland, they’ll await a RBLL Colorado champion to meet at Nationals.

Oregon

River Monsters 21, Mountaineers 11 – 9/23 – Game 5

Portland River monsters won RBLL Oregon in five games over Week 7. Along with Hastings, they’ll await a RBLL Colorado champion to meet at Nationals.

League News

The IBLA is excited to announce the first expansion for the 2018 season, the Bend Knights. Competing in Bend, Oregon, the Knights will push the RBLL Oregon to three teams and open a gateway for more players from Central Oregon to have an opportunity to play senior box lacrosse. Welcome, Knights!

bend knights IBLA RBLL Oregon

Weekend Schedule

RBLL Colorado

Parker Rangers at Denver Buzz – Senior A
Saturday, October 7th at 10:00 am
Apex Fieldhouse – Denver, CO

Colorado Springs Wolves at Mile High Stars – Senior A
Saturday, October 7th at 7:30 pm
Foothills Fieldhouse – Denver, CO

RBLL Oregon

Portland River Monsters win series, 4-1.
Portland will meet the winner of RBLL Colorado on November 4th, 2:15 pm, at the Parker Fieldhouse in Parker, CO.

RBLL Minnesota

Hastings Walleye wins seires, 4-2.
Hastings will meet the winner of RBLL Colorado on November 4th, 7:00 pm, at the Foothills Fieldhouse in Denver, CO.