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Denver Outlaws attackman Eric Law

How Eric Law’s off-ball excellence is fueling the Denver Outlaws

By Topher Adams | Aug 13, 2024

Homecoming weekend was always going to be special for Denver Outlaws attackman Eric Law. But in the second game of the weekend against the Carolina Chaos, he secured a weekend his team wouldn’t forget with a sublime four-goal performance. 

Like he’s done his entire career, Law dominated without the ball to fuel Denver to a 10-4 win.

Law is primarily an off-ball finisher at this point of his career. For the last five years, he’s been a lethal cutter, picker and finisher in and around the crease. But he’s not much of a true dodging threat.

Because of that, many teams choose to put a short stick on Law to better defend opposing initiators. The Chaos opted for that strategy in Denver, putting a shortie on Law to double pole the Outlaws midfield.

Law’s seen this before from Carolina, and he knew how to attack.

“I kind of had a feeling that that was going to happen,” Law said, “so [I was] getting involved in that two-man game and just setting as many picks as I possibly could to get guys comfortable.”

From the opening whistle, Law exploited this matchup in the pick game. On almost every possession, he set a pick for a ball-carrier – often rookie Josh Zawada – to switch the matchup and reset the Chaos defense.

With Zawada isolated on a short-stick, the defense's eyes drifted away from Law, who always gets open around the goal.

Setting the pick is the first smart play, but what makes Law special is his work ethic and IQ after the initial pick. He doesn’t just set a pick and then park in front of the crease. He’s always moving, mirroring the dodge or slipping away from the slide.

His picks didn’t always immediately lead to shot attempts. But it was the start of an offensive set that got the defense rotating, and when the defense moved, Law moved into the open space.

This constant presence around the crease makes the game easier for players like Zawada. It’s been an up-and-down rookie season for the former Michigan and Duke star, but he’s played excellent lacrosse at times alongside Law.

Their burgeoning two-man chemistry is quickly becoming one of the top weapons in Denver’s arsenal.

Finding open space is only good if the finishing is there to back it up, and of course that’s not a problem for Law.

Since rejoining the Outlaws, he’s scored 10 goals on 21 shots (48%). Even better for Denver, 81% of his shots are on goal, so even when he’s missing, he’s at least forcing a save. Against the Chaos, Law’s finishing was sensational, scoring his four goals on just eight shots.

Denver has gotten everything it could have wanted out of Law over the last four games, and he’s proven to be a key figure for the team heading into the postseason. His veteran savvy and high-IQ game makes the team better and, the Outlaws hope, will springboard a big playoff run.

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