CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. -- Freshman attacker Craig French (Commack, N.Y. / Lommack H.S.) scored the game-winner with two minutes to go in the second overtime to lift the University of Denver men's lacrosse team to a come-from-behind, 12-11 win over Vermont in double overtime Wednesday afternoon.

The loss was Vermont's first of the season (3-1), while the Pioneers (2-3) snapped a three-game losing skid at the hands of national powers Maryland, Brown and Virginia. The Catamounts jumped out to a 5-1 lead after the first quarter, and led 8-2 at halftime. But Denver roared back with four goals in the third and five in the fourth, tying the game at 11-11.

The first five-minute overtime period was scoreless before French scored his fourth goal of the season and second of the game to end it. He also added an assist. Junior attacker Chad Wittman (Colorado Springs, Colo. / Vermont Academy H.S.) led all scorers with four goals, while sophomore Adam Stifel (Bethesda, Md. / Avon Old Farms H.S.) added three markers.

Senior preseason All-America goalkeeper Brian Berger (Phoenix, Md. / Boys Latin H.S.) had 11 saves for the Pioneers, while Ed Burns had 10 saves for the Cats. Vermont got two goals and two assists from Kip Edwards and three goals from Doug Moses.

The Pioneers return home for a two-game homestand that begins with a 7:30 p.m. matchup with Colorado College this Monday, March 26 at Pioneer Field.

DENVER MEN'S LACROSSE - at Coral Springs, Fla.DENVER 12, Vermont 11 (2 OT)            1       2       3       4       O1      O2      -       FVermont (3-1)   5       3       1       2       0       0       -       11DENVER (2-3)    1       1       4       5       0       1       -       12GOALS: VERMONT - Edwards 3, Moses 2, Legare, Dias, Ginty, Sheehan, McKnight,Prior. DENVER - Wittman 4, Stifel 3, French 2, Law, Crowley, Taylor.ASSISTS: VERMONT 4 (Edwards 2, Legare, Sheehan); DENVER 3 (Law 2, French).SAVES: VERMONT 10 (Burns 10); DENVER 11 (Berger 11).